Futile Devices Scans

“Why aren’t you getting lost yet? Planning to watch me get busy?”

Several breaths passed after the words fell. The man standing in the shadows reached out and turned on the light. Such bright white lighting was rare in a private club; now, intertwined with the swaying colored lights, it created an inexplicably eerie atmosphere.

Without the cover of shadows, the seriousness on Zhang Chi’s face became unmistakably clear. When Zhang Chi didn’t smile, he actually possessed an extremely aggressive appearance. Even with his eyes lowered, people still couldn’t help imagining just how sharp the gaze hidden beneath them must be.

He strode over to the liquor table, sat down in Huang Song’s previous seat, and pulled a cigarette from the pack lying on the table.

Xue Bao Tian had never seen Zhang Chi smoke before. He always smelled clean, like soap. Back when Zhang Chi had tossed him around in bed like frying a fish, Xue Bao Tian would occasionally drift into a daze and comfort himself inwardly: At least this bastard smells decent… just grit your teeth and endure it.

Now that same bastard had a cigarette between his lips as he lifted his eyes toward him. “Xue Bao Tian, sometimes when you do things, you should think about the consequences.”

Zhang Chi had never once called him by his full name before. It was always “Two Hundred” or “Master Xue.” Now, hearing “Xue Bao Tian” pass through Zhang Chi’s lips felt as though the words had been coated in frost before sliding into his ears, sending a chill through his whole body for no reason.

Xue Bao Tian’s gaze found nowhere to settle beneath the glaring white light filling the room. Staring at the corner of the wall, he sneered. “You little bastard probably haven’t seen live porn before, huh? Today Master Xue will broaden your horizons.”

Dragging out the end of his sentence lazily, Xue Bao Tian instructed the woman in his arms, “You… start taking your clothes off.”

The woman glanced at Zhang Chi and giggled. “Brother, what kind of act are we putting on here?”

Xue Bao Tian tossed his wallet onto her lap. “No matter what kind of act it is, you won’t be treated unfairly.”

After unzipping it and sneaking a glance inside, the woman arched her brows. “I take money to do my job, but don’t drag me into your grudges.”

“You talk too much.”

The moment Xue Bao Tian’s fingers touched the buttons on the woman’s coat, he caught movement from the corner of his eye. Zhang Chi had shifted slightly, sinking deeper into the sofa and placing one foot on the liquor table.

Xue Bao Tian’s fingers trembled. “You’re trying to threaten me too? Like Huang Song did?”

Zhang Chi picked up the lighter and played with it between his fingers. “Huang Song stopped before going too far because the conflict between you two wasn’t that serious. We’re different. If I crippled you, I could still afford to take care of you.”

“What happened to the law?”

“You can try testing it.”

Xue Bao Tian’s throat bobbed, but he stayed silent for a long while. Finishing the last of the liquor in his glass, he grabbed the wallet and casually pulled out a stack of cash, stuffing it into the woman’s hand. “Go, go, go. I’ve got serious business to discuss.”

The woman happily thanked him after taking the money and left the private room delighted. Before leaving, she thoughtfully switched off the bright white light. Her gaze drifted meaningfully between the two men before she slowly closed the heavy door behind her.

Xue Bao Tian lowered his head and drank another glass. After staring at Zhang Chi across from him for a while, he patted the empty spot beside him.

Unless things had truly reached a point of swords drawn and bows bent, Zhang Chi never embarrassed Xue Bao Tian publicly. He got up and sat beside him, leaving about a fist’s worth of space between them.

Xue Bao Tian snatched the cigarette from between Zhang Chi’s lips and skillfully put it in his own mouth, then lifted his chin toward him.

Zhang Chi flicked the lighter and lit the cigarette for him. Only after the thin smoke enveloped the two of them did he hear Xue Bao Tian speak.

“Zhang Chi, are your little abilities only ever used on me?” Unlike the sharp anger from earlier, there was now a trace of self-mocking bitterness hidden in Xue Bao Tian’s complaint.

He stopped Zhang Chi before he could explain. “Don’t start saying Huang Song isn’t someone I can afford to provoke. If you weren’t here tonight, do you really think I would’ve provoked him?” He flicked ash from the cigarette. “My temper’s bad, sure, but I still know how to survive.”

Zhang Chi fell silent. He poured himself a drink, the reddish-brown liquor sliding slowly down the sides of the glass. Amid the quiet sound of flowing alcohol, he spoke. “Two Hundred, I can’t protect you forever.”

“That’s true enough.” Xue Bao Tian laughed softly, exhaling a mouthful of smoke. His words drifted out as lightly as the smoke itself. “Zhang Chi, let’s end this between us.”

Zhang Chi abruptly lifted his head and saw the ridicule on Xue Bao Tian’s face. “How exactly are we supposed to define this relationship? Employer and employee? What kind of boss can’t even hold a woman without constantly worrying about his bodyguard’s mood? Or are we fuck buddies? That’s even more impossible. I’m a completely straight man.”

He grabbed the drink Zhang Chi had poured and emptied it in one swallow. “Breaking things off is good for you too. We only met because of some ridiculous accident in the first place. You never had any experience before, so you’ve always had a bit of a baby bird complex toward me… but life’s long. Haven’t you thought about the future?”

Xue Bao Tian looked at Zhang Chi calmly and asked, “Zhang Chi, have you ever thought about the future?”

The young man froze for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

“Even if we go ten thousand steps back, even if I weren’t straight, would you really want to stay with me for the rest of your life?”

Zhang Chi refilled the glass again. This time he thought for much longer. Accompanied by the scent of alcohol, he finally said, “Two Hundred, you’re too troublesome.”

Xue Bao Tian cursed, “Fuck. See? You never planned on staying with me forever either.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Let’s split up. No point holding each other back. You’ve slept with me plenty of times already anyway—consider it Master Xue doing charity work and giving the flowers of the motherland some sex education. I won’t hold it against you anymore.”

Getting up to grab his wallet, Xue Bao Tian spoke around the cigarette hanging from his lips. “Even though you only worked one day as my bodyguard, Master Xue still won’t treat you badly. Take this money. If you run into trouble later and need cash or something, come find me. No matter what, we’ve rolled around in bed together before. If you need help, Master Xue will still take care of you.”

“I don’t want money.” Zhang Chi rubbed the top of Xue Bao Tian’s head, then let his hand slide down across his shoulder until he grasped the pendant hanging against his chest. “Give me this instead.”

Xue Bao Tian lowered his eyes to look at it, smiling helplessly. “Fuck, you really know how to ask for things. My mom got this blessed for me at a temple.” He looked at Zhang Chi with some hesitation. “You really want it?”

“Mm.”

Xue Bao Tian fell silent for a moment. “Will you treasure it?”

“I will.”

Letting out a sigh, Xue Bao Tian started unclasping the necklace. “Fine, take it. Who told you you’re the only man Master Xue has ever slept with? And I even took your virginity. Thinking about it, that’s pretty damn impressive.”

The jet-black wushi plaque was held out before Zhang Chi, but the young man merely leaned forward slightly, his meaning obvious without words.

Xue Bao Tian bit down on his cigarette and laughed while cursing, “You’ve seriously been spoiled.”

He looped both arms around Zhang Chi’s neck and narrowed his eyes in the slowly rising smoke as he fastened the clasp.

The posture resembled an embrace, leaving the two of them extremely close. The skin along their faces almost touched, their body heat blending together until it was impossible to tell whose warmth belonged to whom.

“Two Hundred,” Zhang Chi called softly.

“Mm?” The warm breath brushing his ear sent a tingling sensation through him. Xue Bao Tian wanted to rub against it with his shoulder, but their almost-snuggling position made that impossible.

“My first partner being you was good.” The gentle whisper slipped into Xue Bao Tian’s ears from the closest possible distance. “Even though you’re troublesome sometimes, you can also be cute once in a while.”

“You motherf—”

The angry curse was swallowed by a kiss. Zhang Chi lightly pressed a kiss beside Xue Bao Tian’s ear. “Cause less trouble in the future. Protect yourself. And if you really can’t hold back from cursing someone out, send me messages instead. Curse however you want. I won’t talk back.”

Xue Bao Tian stayed silent for a while before finally fastening the clasp completely and pushing Zhang Chi away. Crushing the cigarette butt out, he scoffed, “Worry about yourself instead. You’re already over twenty and still scraping by on construction sites.”

He stood and headed for the door. “Don’t come see me again if there’s nothing important. You’re annoying as hell.”

Zhang Chi stood as well. “Two Hundred.”

Xue Bao Tian turned back impatiently.

“My luggage is still in your car.”

The man clicked his tongue and waved helplessly. “Come on then. Go get your stuff from the car.”

After the car door shut, Zhang Chi slung the woven sack over his shoulder and reached out to rub Xue Bao Tian’s cheek once. “I’m leaving.”

Xue Bao Tian turned his face aside, though he didn’t get angry. He only gave a low “Mm.”

Zhang Chi withdrew his hand. In the massive parking lot, he paused briefly to figure out the direction, then adjusted the woven sack higher onto his shoulder and started toward the exit.

After only taking two steps, his brows suddenly knitted together slightly. His sharp gaze swept upward, instantly turning fierce. He spun around and reached out with one hand, shouting, “Two Hundred!”

Author’s Note:

Yes, Zhang Chi still hasn’t fallen in love with our Bao Tian yet. Right now it’s just a baby bird complex.

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