When Yan Ye returned through the wind and snow, he was still regretting not buying condoms back at the pharmacy earlier.
He had already kissed Xue Bao Tian until a mist clouded his eyes. He had already kneaded those icy fingertips until they turned hot. Yet when they searched the hotel room, there were no condoms anywhere to be found.
Long fingers lifted another cigarette, loosely dangling it beside the bed. His slightly hoarse voice carried a hint of schadenfreude.
“Not happening.”
Yan Ye hurriedly wrapped himself back up in his clothes, fiercely kissed the tired man on the lips, and said, “Wait for me to buy some. I’ll be right back.”
He ran all the way there and back. But when he pushed open the door again and had only stripped halfway out of his clothes, he discovered Xue Bao Tian had already fallen asleep.
The cigarette in his fingers had slipped halfway down, still loosely held there as pale smoke curled lazily upward. Quiet and peaceful, just like his sleeping face at that moment.
The bedside lamp still glowed the same dim yellow as before. Light cast shadows beneath his drooping lashes, overlapping with the weary bluish shadows under his eyes, making him look fragile in an irresistibly sensual way.
Yan Ye softened his footsteps, removed the cigarette from between Xue Bao Tian’s fingers, and extinguished it in the ashtray. He dimmed the lights further, then only after warming himself up did he lift the blanket and gather the man into his arms.
Xue Bao Tian had lost a lot of weight. His jawline had sharpened significantly. When lying on his side, the line of his waist dipped inward with a clear curve.
Yan Ye rested a hand in that hollow and felt a pang of heartache.
A sleepy murmur escaped.
Xue Bao Tian slowly opened hazy eyes. After recognizing the person before him, he subconsciously called out, “Zhang Chi,” then softly said:
“Come inside.”
Xue Bao Tian rarely acted this obedient. So obedient it made a fine ache spread across Yan Ye’s chest.
Suppressing the scorching pain gnawing at his heart, Yan Ye pulled him tighter into his embrace. His hoarse voice scattered into the night.
“I’m tired. Sleep.”
Before he could even finish speaking, the man in his arms had already fallen asleep again. His forehead rested against Yan Ye’s shoulder blade, and his soft lips happened to press directly against that cigarette burn scar.
By the time Yan Ye woke again, daylight had fully arrived.
The space beside him was empty, while the bathroom echoed with running water.
Last night he had silently recited calming chants for half the night before finally drifting off near dawn. Now, after checking the time, he realized there were only thirty minutes left before the train departed.
His hand slipped beneath the pillow and felt around for the condoms. He seriously considered whether half an hour was enough time, but eventually sighed and got up to pull on his pants.
Xue Bao Tian had slept well the previous night.
Fresh from a shower, he swept his still-damp hair back, looking even more dazzling than usual.
He sprawled carelessly on the edge of the bed, mischief hidden beneath his narrow eyelids.
“So how’d you manage to act human last night? Honestly, not smelling beast stink for once almost felt strange.”
The fever Yan Ye had barely suppressed started rising again.
Watching Xue Bao Tian’s lively expression, only a few heavy words floated through his mind:
Needs to be fucked.
After another glance at the clock, Yan Ye helplessly rubbed Xue Bao Tian’s half-damp hair.
“Stop teasing me, Two Hundred.”
Xue Bao Tian had no idea what filthy thoughts Yan Ye was suppressing. He hooked a foot around the man.
“Turn around. Let me see your back.”
When the shirt was lifted, the bruising looked even worse than before. Dark purples and blues spread outward horrifyingly.
Xue Bao Tian’s fingertips lightly traced the injury. His voice softened like morning light.
“Does it still hurt? Need more medicine?”
The man suddenly turned and grabbed his wrist.
Xue Bao Tian was still startled by the burning heat in Yan Ye’s palm when his own hand was abruptly guided somewhere unspeakable.
Yan Ye stepped closer, breathing unevenly.
“Two Hundred… want to change our train tickets?”
Xue Bao Tian instantly yanked his hand away and stumbled back two steps while cursing.
“Sorry for accidentally treating you like a human being just now. Caring about you was my mistake.”
Even after being cursed at, Yan Ye didn’t mind. Carrying his restless heat with him, he headed into the bathroom.
“I’ll shower. Then we’ll head to the station.”
The train was a slow one. It would take four hours to reach Yan City.
Yan Ye originally bought sleeper tickets. But while paying, he remembered Xue Bao Tian’s earlier complaint—“And you still dragged me to an eighty-yuan-a-night motel”—so he switched them to a soft sleeper compartment instead.
Average income in Chuanqi County wasn’t high. The area wasn’t wealthy. Even ordinary sleeper tickets sold poorly, let alone soft sleepers.
By the time the train started moving, Yan Ye still looked slightly dazed.
“Soft sleeper compartments come with doors?”
The four-person compartment currently only held Yan Ye and Xue Bao Tian.
Xue Bao Tian answered with a lazy “Mm,” then sneered.
“Little idiot.”
“Can they lock?”
“They can. Otherwise why would they cost more?” Xue Bao Tian watched barren grass flash past outside the window. “What, you planning to play with the door lock like some bratty kid?”
Click!
The lock snapped shut, temporarily sealing the cramped space.
Xue Bao Tian glanced back casually, still sounding tired and lazy.
“I think we’re the only people in this entire car. What’re you locking it for?”
“Feels safer locked.”
“Mm, lock it then. Wouldn’t want you losing your face after finally growing it this thick. If you lost it, that’d really—Yan Ye, what the hell are you doing?!”
The narrow bunk jolted violently as Xue Bao Tian was shoved flat onto it.
Startled and furious, he cursed:
“We’re on a fucking train, Yan Ye! Are you insane?!”
Yan Ye also looked embarrassed, his ears flushed red, but he stubbornly refused to answer while his hands never stopped moving.
Within moments, Xue Bao Tian had been stripped nearly bare. Clutching onto the last remaining piece of clothing, he finally started begging.
“Brother Chi, Brother Chi, calm down! I already agreed to this! There’s seriously no need to be this impatient! Once we get to Yan City, we can book a room and I’ll let you do whatever the hell you want, okay?”
Seeing that begging wasn’t working, he switched to threats.
“The conductor’s going to come check tickets later! Do you have any shame at all? Mmph—!”
As he was kissed silent, he finally heard the bastard speak.
“My skin’s thick. Losing one layer won’t matter.”
The sleeper bunk was cramped, while Yan Ye was far too large.
One leg braced against the floor, the other planted on the bed. His thumb pressed into the hollow of Xue Bao Tian’s waist as he relentlessly advanced.
The train thundered onward, wheels striking each rail junction like tiny launching points—regular, repetitive jolts and tremors.
The train had reached 120 kilometers per hour.
The scenery before Xue Bao Tian’s eyes blurred. The withered yellow grasses outside seemed to weave themselves into a giant net, tightening tighter and hotter around him until even breathing became impossible.
How much air he was allowed depended entirely on the large hand locked around his throat—whether it chose mercy or cruelty.
Who knew how much time passed before the train finally began slowing down.
Outside, the wild grasses once again looked dry and dead. The net gradually dissolved, transforming into kisses that landed one after another along his back.
“You’ve gotten thinner.”
Yan Ye kissed beside Xue Bao Tian’s ear. His rough voice sounded low and slow.
“I’m sorry.”
Xue Bao Tian gathered up his sweat-soaked hair and viciously bit Yan Ye’s lips.
“If you really want to make it up to me, then fucking finish already.”
The train accelerated again.
The rail joints came faster and denser. The train shook harder than before. Metal trays on the luggage rack rattled nonstop, while fingers gripping the platform edge turned so white they looked ready to melt into the sunlight itself.
Before the train reached its destination, the speed climbed to its peak—
And after that graceful swan-like neck arched high one final time…
Everything finally returned to silence.
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Futile Devices Scans 
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