Futile Devices Scans

Ren Yu sat beside the desk, watching his direct supervisor make a phone call.

On the other side of the desk, Zhou Ruo An was sunk into a genuine leather chair, his long legs casually crossed. He held the phone in one hand while the other idly spun a fountain pen. His whole person radiated a lazy, careless ease.

Ren Yu knew who was on the other end of the call. Lin Yi, that man who looked fierce and evil on the surface, and in reality was also ruthless in his methods.

Last weekend’s birthday banquet was still vivid in his mind. Not only had Zhou Ruo An invited him, he had even brought Fu Chun Shen along.

As a result, the sight of Lin Yi wearing that snow-white veil, leaning down beside Zhou Ruo An’s ear and calling him “husband,” had not only stunned Ren Yu, but also made Fu Chun Shen’s eyes glow green.

That very night, Fu Chun Shen had gotten his hands on a veil, one adorned with pearls and beautiful to an extreme. Randomly draping it over Ren Yu’s head, he kissed him through the gauze and demanded in a low voice, “Call me husband.”

Ren Yu had already been brooding over their positions to begin with, and now this was adding oil to the fire. How could he not be furious? He kicked the man away fiercely. “Don’t even think about it!”

With anger in his heart, the cup in his hand landed heavily. The crisp clink made Zhou Ruo An suddenly remember that there was someone else in the office. He lazily lifted his eyelids and glanced at Ren Yu, only then slowly and unhurriedly saying goodbye to the person on the other end. A simple “goodbye” was drawn out by him with lingering tail tones, dragging on for a full half minute before he finally hung up.

“Something?” Zhou Ruo An tossed the phone onto the desk and lifted his eyes to look at his assistant. Sunlight cast a small shadow beneath his lashes, making those eyes appear even deeper.

Ren Yu cleared his throat awkwardly. “Are you free tonight? I’ll treat you to a drink.”

“My great Assistant Ren is finally not working overtime?” Zhou Ruo An took a cigarette from the drawer and toyed with it between his fingers. Suddenly, his tone shifted, and he asked nosily, “How has Fu Chun Shen been at work lately?”

Zhou Ruo An lit the cigarette and said with a smile, “I still remember how, back then, he would hold an unqualified proposal over the shredder with a cold face and casually loosen his fingers. And those project team members who submitted the report wouldn’t even dare let out a fart.”

Zhou Ruo An flicked the ash from his cigarette. “Now he’s your subordinate. He hasn’t brought you any trouble at work, has he?”

“He’s gone to run errands and buy coffee for his colleagues right now,” Ren Yu said expressionlessly.

Zhou Ruo An choked on a mouthful of smoke and began coughing lowly. “What? Did you join forces with everyone else to bully him?”

Ren Yu laughed from anger. “Who do you think could bully him?”

Zhou Ruo An thought about it and felt that made sense. He looked at Ren Yu. “He’s pretending?”

“Pretending to be pitiful. I don’t know what went wrong with my brain, but I helped him once a while ago. And now look, he’s getting worse and worse at selling misery. His addiction to acting is quite strong.”

Zhou Ruo An bit his cigarette and laughed. He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice. “I heard you two always work overtime together and go home late. Could it be…”

“Mr. Zhou, are you free tonight?” Ren Yu cut off Zhou Ruo An’s words. “If you are, Airbus Bar. Let’s have a drink.”

“I’m free.” Zhou Ruo An asked with a smile, “Can I bring someone?”

At nine o’clock that evening, Airbus Bar was filled with roaring sound.

In the centermost seat of the booth area, Ren Yu opened a bottle of whiskey. After pouring wine for Zhou Ruo An, Ren Yu glanced at the man seated beside him. He was tall, strong, and even when his face was not cold, he still did not look like someone easy to get along with.

Ren Yu had just been about to pour wine when someone stopped him. Fu Chun Shen took the bottle from Ren Yu’s hand and naturally filled Lin Yi’s glass for him.

Fu Chun Shen had not originally been among the invited, but he had shamelessly followed along. Ren Yu had not stopped him either. After all, Zhou Ruo An had brought Lin Yi. In a group of three, there was always one third wheel, and Ren Yu clearly did not want to play that role.

After Fu Chun Shen filled all four of their glasses in succession, he set down the bottle and suddenly leaned close to Ren Yu’s ear. His warm breath, mixed with a faint scent of alcohol, brushed over the shell of Ren Yu’s ear. “Do you dislike Lin Yi, or are you afraid of him?”

Ren Yu’s fingertips paused slightly.

“I…” To this day, Ren Yu still remembered how Lin Yi had locked him with iron chains in that abandoned warehouse, and the sentence Lin Yi had smashed word by word into his eardrums: “If you harbor second thoughts, I’ll make your family fall apart and your people perish.”

Those words were like a thorn, deeply embedded in his heart, so much so that now, every time he saw Lin Yi, Ren Yu would instinctively tense his nerves. In Zhou Ruo An’s words, he was simply done for.

Ren Yu froze slightly. He had not expected Fu Chun Shen to see through his thoughts, or even precisely poke at the tiny bit of fear he held toward Lin Yi. He quickly reined in his expression, lightly turned his fingers against the rim of the glass, and, pretending to be calm, adopted his usual lofty posture as he said flatly, “How could that be possible?”

Tonight, Ren Yu’s purpose was extremely simple. He wanted to consult Zhou Ruo An on how exactly he had made Lin Yi, who was so tall, imposing, and full of murderous aura, willingly submit to him.

Only when Lin Yi and Fu Chun Shen left one after another to use the restroom did Ren Yu seize the chance to bring his wineglass closer to Zhou Ruo An and ask in a lowered voice, “Mr. Zhou, are you really together with Lin Yi?”

Zhou Ruo An and Lin Yi had been sleeping together for more than two years. At first, they had needed to conceal it from others, but later, anyone with eyes could tell that the relationship between the two of them was far from ordinary. Only a fool like Bai Ban would think that Lin Yi kissing Zhou Ruo An was him using his brother to “practice.”

But Ren Yu was different. He was a proper elite, and he had followed Zhou Ruo An for so long. Yet he was actually still doubting his relationship with Lin Yi.

Zhou Ruo An slowly sipped his wine and asked back with a faint smile, “What do you think?”

“You locked him in a warehouse and starved him for three days. Later, he got revenge and locked you up for three days too. You hired people to beat him in shifts, and even crushed his hand with the sole of your shoe. Even after all that, you two can still be together?”

Being reminded like this, Zhou Ruo An finally realized that he and Lin Yi actually had so many “grievances” between them. He clicked his tongue lightly. “Fu Chun Shen once spread obscene rumors about you. Aren’t the two of you still together all the same?”

“I…” Ren Yu choked.

“Don’t deny it.” Zhou Ruo An coolly cut him off, his gaze flicking toward the restroom. “He can sit beside you now, pour wine for you, and lean close to your ear to whisper, and you don’t feel disgusted or refuse him. Don’t tell me the two of you are still like fire and water.”

He tilted his head and looked at Ren Yu, smiling as he threw out a question. “Have you gone all the way, or have you slept together?”

Ren Yu opened his mouth, momentarily speechless. Zhou Ruo An had finally gotten to watch this excitement, so how could he let it go so easily? His eyes lit up as he pressed, “An elite shou, huh. So… how is he in bed?”

Ren Yu’s knuckles tightened, gripping the wineglass hard. The lighting in the bar was dim, but it still could not hide the flush rising at the base of his ears. After hesitating for a moment, he finally seemed to make up his mind and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Zhou, how did you make Lin Yi willingly… lie down?”

“Ah?” With just that sentence, Zhou Ruo An instantly understood the problem Ren Yu was currently facing. He laughed boldly, crossed one leg over the other, and said proudly, “There aren’t that many techniques. It all depends on personal charm. When I tell him to lie down, he lies down. Lin Yi, uhm, is very obedient.”

Ren Yu felt somewhat discouraged. Ever since Fu Chun Shen’s “step-by-step” love had been ruined by his own hands, Fu Chun Shen had completely thrown away his formula-like restraints, as well as the dignity of a refined man, and had started drilling into Ren Yu’s apartment every day.

Both of them were older youths. At twenty-seven or twenty-eight, they had never opened meat before, and once the taboo was broken, they were somewhat unable to put on the brakes. Fu Chun Shen had also somehow trained himself into a body full of firm muscle. Every time, he would pull Ren Yu’s hand and press it to his abs. “Not thin. Check it.”

Ren Yu enjoyed it, but he also felt awkward inside, brooding over their positions. He had also once thought of counterattacking, but it had always been futile. To this day, he had not succeeded even once.

Here, Zhou Ruo An began giving reckless advice. “Getting him to lie down is simple enough.” He pushed the bottle forward. “Get him drunk and drag him back. Then isn’t he yours to deal with however you want?”

Ren Yu felt that made sense, but then suddenly thought of Fu Chun Shen’s height, half a head taller than his, as well as his own apartment, which had no elevator and required climbing the stairs.

Dragging him back seemed a little difficult…

In the restroom, water rushed. Fu Chun Shen stood before the mirror washing his hands. The faucet beside him was suddenly turned on, and Lin Yi’s long fingers reached into the stream of water.

“Still haven’t caught up with Assistant Ren?” Lin Yi’s voice sounded especially clear in the empty restroom.

Fu Chun Shen lifted his eyes and looked at the man beside him through the mirror, then slowly gave his answer. “He likes me very much.”

“Doesn’t look like it.” Lin Yi turned off the faucet and drew a paper towel to wipe his hands. Suddenly, his tone shifted. “Want me to repay your favor?”

Fu Chun Shen cast him an assessing look and said calmly, “If Mr. Lin hadn’t mentioned it, I really would have forgotten you still owed me a favor.”

“Mm.” Lin Yi tossed the crumpled paper towel accurately into the trash can. “Last time, it was thanks to Secretary Fu that Old Master Jin could obtain the fake medical record of deep coma and fool Zhou Ran Ming.”

“How do you want to repay it?” Fu Chun Shen turned, leaning his back against the sink.

Lin Yi slowly walked toward the corner, picked up an empty decorative wine bottle, and weighed it in his palm. “Ren Yu and I have some old grudges. You can vent some anger on his behalf.”

……

A sudden commotion erupted in the center of the bar. Zhou Ruo An and Ren Yu, who had been speaking in low voices, lifted their heads at the same time, only to see Fu Chun Shen in the middle of the crowd, holding a wine bottle high and smashing it fiercely toward Lin Yi’s head.

“Fuck!” Zhou Ruo An abruptly stood, grabbed the wine bottle on the table, and leapt up by stepping on the bar counter. His eyes were blood-red, the veins at his temples bulging. He roughly shoved aside the crowd of onlookers, and the wine bottle in his hand swung toward Fu Chun Shen with a rush of wind.

“Mr. Zhou!” Ren Yu, following closely behind, rushed forward in one arrow-like step and spread both arms to protect Fu Chun Shen behind him. The wine bottle came to an abrupt halt less than ten centimeters from his face, and Zhou Ruo An’s wrist trembled faintly from the sudden stop.

“Move.” Zhou Ruo An squeezed out the word through his teeth.

Ren Yu did not budge at all. “Mr. Zhou, there must be some misunderstanding here.”

At this moment, Lin Yi gently wrapped his arms around Zhou Ruo An from behind, his warm lips pressing to his ear. “How could I possibly let him actually hit me?” He slowly pried open Zhou Ruo An’s fingers gripping the bottle, took the bottle, and casually tossed it aside. “Let’s go home.”

Only then did Zhou Ruo An notice the blood seeping from Lin Yi’s forehead. He hurriedly pulled out a tissue and pressed it to the wound, the fury in his eyes gradually replaced by confusion.

Turning back to glance at Ren Yu and Fu Chun Shen, Zhou Ruo An lowered his eyes and allowed Lin Yi to hold him, walking out of the bar under everyone’s astonished gazes.

“What happened?” Ren Yu turned to look at Fu Chun Shen.

The broken wine bottle gave a dull clatter in the trash can. Fu Chun Shen patted the glass fragments from his hands, and when he lifted his eyes, his gaze was terrifyingly calm.

“I heard,” his voice was very soft, yet it made Ren Yu’s heart tremble, “that he once locked you up with chains.”

Ren Yu’s breath caught, and his fingertips curled unconsciously. Beneath the dim lighting, he saw the dark fire leaping in Fu Chun Shen’s eyes. It was a ruthlessness he had never seen before in this refined man.

“So you…” Ren Yu’s voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

“Got it back for you.” Fu Chun Shen said it as though it were only natural. He stepped forward, enveloping Ren Yu in his shadow. “I’ll protect you well.”

“Too… reckless.” Ren Yu rebuked him with his mouth, yet the corners of his lips rose uncontrollably. He suddenly exerted force and pushed Fu Chun Shen into an even more hidden corner, their bodies pressed tightly together without the slightest gap. “Do you know who you hit? That was Lin Yi! He hung Zhou Ruo An up in a warehouse, locked me to a rusty radiator, subdued the village bully in a few moves, fought more than a dozen thugs by himself, and even when he was attacked in shifts, he never fell into a disadvantage. Fu Chun Shen, today you actually… hit him?”

Fu Chun Shen suddenly tightened his arms, and Ren Yu, caught off guard, fell into his embrace.

“I hit him.” The man’s two simple words carried unquestionable strength.

Ren Yu felt the blood in his whole body boiling. He leaned against Fu Chun Shen’s forehead, his voice carrying an unprecedented lightness. “So from now on… I don’t have to be afraid of him anymore?”

“You don’t have to be afraid of him. I’m here.”

Ren Yu suddenly hugged him hard, with enough force to almost suffocate someone. “Fu Chun Shen, I… how should I thank you?”

“I’m out of money to renew my rent. Can I live at your place?”

“You can.”

“Then…” Fu Chun Shen moved close to Ren Yu’s ear, his breath sweeping over the earlobe. “Can you wear the veil and call me husband?”

Ren Yu directly kissed him, saying vaguely amid their burning breaths, “I’ll even wear a wedding dress and call you that.”

……

Beneath the cold lighting of the restroom, Lin Yi held the empty wine bottle out in front of Fu Chun Shen. “Ren Yu admires strength. Secretary Fu, do you want to try smashing it here?” He pointed at his own temple. “I promise I won’t fight back.”

Late that night, Lin Yi received a text message: Can I hit you once every three months from now on? In return, Fu Group can cooperate with your company on projects.

The phone was slammed hard onto the gaudy floral bedsheet. Zhou Ruo An suddenly pushed away the man on top of him, his silk nightgown sliding down to reveal half a shoulder. “Does Fu Chun Shen think I’m dead? I have no less money than he does!” His eyes were full of malicious intent. “If I don’t turn him into an elite shou, my surname isn’t Zhou.”

Lin Yi dragged him back into his arms, pinching a strawberry candy between his fingers and pressing it against Zhou Ruo An’s lips. “Taking one beating every three months in exchange for cooperation with Fu Group. This deal isn’t a loss. Doesn’t Mr. Zhou plan to make good use of me?”

Zhou Ruo An narrowed his eyes, and as his tongue swept the candy away, it left a wet trace on Lin Yi’s fingertip. “That’s true. This business is guaranteed profit.” He suddenly reached for the ashtray on the bedside table. “In order to let General Manager Lin get knocked a few more times, we should practice in advance.”

Lin Yi smiled and exerted force upward, and that ashtray abruptly slipped from Zhou Ruo An’s hand.

The kiss fell, lightly teasing and tangling with the piece of candy. “An An, every piece of candy you gave me, I kept and couldn’t bear to eat. Only now do I know that you and candy are both this sweet.”

Clinging to those strong shoulders, Zhou Ruo An slowly opened his eyes.

Lin Yi, every piece of candy I casually handed you was carefully treasured by you. But only now do I know that you are the only piece of candy in this rotten life of mine.

Very sweet, like a beautiful dream.

The End

Elio’s Notes: Okay, so you might be looking for Extra 6; unfortunately, there’s none. We couldn’t find any raws online. Probably a typo in the numbering or censored as well, who knows, so we just jumped into the last chapter.

Glad this is done and it’s HE! We had difficulties completing this due to the missing chapters. We’ll post updates in case we get our hands on the missing ones. Thank you for staying to read until the end! Feel free to leave a review for the story itself at Novel Updates here.

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