Elio’s Notes: When we started translating this story, we speculated that the missing Chapter 49 was taken down due to censorship. Now while proofreading Filth against the official Changpei edition, we confirmed that the current official text does something unusual: Chapter 48 continues through the entire park incident and then jumps directly to Chapter 50. There is no separately listed Chapter 49. We cannot confirm why the author skipped the number. Our current theory is that it may simply be a numbering or editing artifact, possibly connected to the fact that this same crossover incident had already been written from Zhang Xu Yao and Fang Fei’s side in Su Er Liang’s earlier novel Bad Person. However, this is only our speculation and is not confirmed by the author or the source. Bad Person Chapter 26, originally titled “Does Kissing Feel Good?”, depicts the same ambush from Zhang Xu Yao’s perspective before returning to Fang Fei. We decided to include it here as a special supplementary crossover chapter so readers can see the other side of the incident and have additional context for the unusual Chapter 48 → 50 transition in Filth. This is not a recovered, reconstructed, or replacement Chapter 49 of Filth. When Bad Person officially becomes a Futile Devices project, this translation will be relisted under its proper chapter number and title.
Zhang Xu Yao switched on his right turn signal and drove onto a secluded, tree-lined road.
There were few cars on the road. Zhang Xu Yao trailed behind one of them. When they reached a densely wooded stretch, the car ahead slowed and gradually pulled to a stop. Zhang Xu Yao stepped on the accelerator and overtook it, watching through the rearview mirror as the stationary vehicle began to rock faintly.
Withdrawing his gaze, Zhang Xu Yao stepped on the brakes as well and parked his car in the shadows beneath the trees farther ahead.
The fallen leaves had already dried out, going crunch, crunch beneath his feet. The autumn night carried a chill. Wearing leather gloves, Zhang Xu Yao lit a cigarette and slowly drew on it.
About half an hour later, he heard the distant sound of an approaching car. Zhang Xu Yao opened the trunk, hoisted the netted road spikes onto his shoulder, walked to the roadside, and flung them hard across the pavement.
The night was deep and the streetlights dim. Unless someone looked carefully, it would be nearly impossible to make out the black net fitted with road spikes lying across the road.
The car came speeding toward him. The rush of air from its high speed lifted the hem of Zhang Xu Yao’s coat and scattered the ash from his cigarette. Sparks swept away by the wind traced a faint red streak through the darkness.
Like a flying insect crashing into a spider’s web, the car plunged straight into the “trap.” The tires became tightly entangled in the tough black net, the road spikes piercing through the rubber as air hissed out from all sides. Forced to slow, the car swerved violently from side to side before finally coming to a stop.
Only after Zhang Xu Yao heard the car door open did he put on his baseball cap and step out of the darkness. He moved quickly, reaching the car in only a few strides. Grabbing the man who was trying to get out and see what had happened, Zhang Xu Yao seized him by the hair and slammed his head hard against the steering wheel amid his terrified cry.
Bang! After the dull impact, the man went quiet. His hands slowly fell limp as his body slumped over the steering wheel.
The woman in the passenger seat trembled violently, so frightened that not even a scream could escape her throat.
Zhang Xu Yao took the cigarette from his mouth and said softly, “Phone.”
The woman hurriedly rummaged through her bag, found her phone, and handed it to him.
Zhang Xu Yao slipped the phone into his pocket, then brought two fingers together in a commanding gesture. “Knock yourself unconscious against the dashboard. Go ahead.”
The woman immediately panicked. She had no idea what to do, but she was even more afraid that the thug would do it himself. Gritting her teeth, she squeezed her eyes shut and slammed her head against the dashboard.
“Are you unconscious yet?” Zhang Xu Yao asked coldly, staring at the woman sprawled over the dashboard while her lashes continued fluttering.
The woman kept her eyes tightly shut and nodded once.
“If you’re unconscious, then you should know how to keep your mouth shut.”
The trembling woman nodded again.
Zhang Xu Yao dragged the already unconscious man out of the driver’s seat. As he moved him, his gaze swept across the back seat.
He hauled the man over and dumped him into his own car. After closing the door, Zhang Xu Yao returned to the other vehicle and looked through the window into the rear passenger area.
A bag had been tossed into the rear footwell. Several badges hung from it. It looked familiar.
Zhang Xu Yao opened the door and picked it up. Through his glove, he ran his fingers once over the Gangji University badge.
Returning to his own car, he placed the bag on the passenger seat, locked all four doors, started the engine, and drove off down the road.
＊
There was a park in Yan City. It was not particularly large, but with hills behind it and water nearby, the scenery was pleasant. Because it had been built many years ago, some of its facilities were rather run-down. During the day, residents came here to relax and exercise. At night, however, once darkness settled over it, the park became one of the city’s well-known places for gay socializing and activities.
Put more simply, it was a place to find hookups. Sometimes, it was also where certain filthy transactions took place.
Most of the people who came here looking for company were from the lower rungs of society. They could not afford bars, could not land anyone glamorous, and did not have the money to hire high-end escorts.
Here, all someone needed to do was sit on a bench holding a cigarette or a lighter. If they met someone who caught their eye—or whose price was right—they could spend a night of pleasure together.
Zhang Xu Yao parked beside the park, walked around the car, opened the passenger door, and knocked the gradually stirring man unconscious once more.
Supporting the man, he led him into the park, deposited him on the nearest bench, then tossed his own lighter onto him.
Zhang Xu Yao lowered his eyes as though looking at a pile of garbage. “Zhou Ruo An, you’re nothing more than an illegitimate son of the Zhou family’s third branch. Tell me—if something happened to you, do you think the head of the Zhou family you’ve been currying favor with would seek justice for you?”
The low voice scattered almost immediately in the wind blowing across the empty plaza. The man on the bench remained completely unaware.
The night was already deep, and people had begun appearing in twos and threes throughout the park. Zhang Xu Yao straightened the man’s body, then disappeared into the darkness.
Before long, someone wandered over and sat down on the same bench. The newcomer looked to be in his fifties or sixties, with a scrawny build and a bald head that formed another source of light beneath the dim streetlamp.
The old man nudged the younger man and asked, “Had too much to drink?” When he received no response, he grew bolder and turned the man’s face from side to side. “Pretty young. Looks like I hit the jackpot tonight.”
The grimy hand grabbed him several times at a sensitive area. The old man appeared impatient and lustful. After looking around and seeing no one nearby, he pulled the younger man upright and helped him toward the rockery.
Zhang Xu Yao turned away without a change in expression. Halfway out, he heard another voice from behind the rockery.
“I’ll help you get him in there. We found him for free anyway. We might as well both have some fun.”
The old man sounded somewhat annoyed. “How come you never miss out whenever something good like this comes my way? Fine, we can both have fun, but I get the first go.”
“Deal. I’ll keep watch for you.”
With both hands in his pockets, Zhang Xu Yao lowered his gaze and walked out of the park.
＊
When Zhang Xu Yao returned, he was carrying a thin chain.
Fang Fei was quite pleased. He cooperated as the chain was changed, shook his wrist, and praised it. “This one looks better than the other one.”
He peered behind Zhang Xu Yao and spotted his precious bag sitting on the entryway cabinet.
“You didn’t throw it away?” Delight immediately spread through Fang Fei’s eyes. He looped the slender chain around the back of Zhang Xu Yao’s neck and pulled him downward with both hands. “Zhang Xu Yao, how are you so good to me?”
For one fleeting moment, Zhang Xu Yao thought Fang Fei was about to kiss him. Instead, the young man merely gave him a light hug before eagerly running toward the entryway.
Zhang Xu Yao slowly straightened, feeling a little regretful. That damn bag should’ve gone straight into the trash downstairs.
＊
Fang Fei was in a good mood. The next day, he locked himself to the handle of a kitchen cabinet and personally cooked an entire table of dishes to reward Zhang Xu Yao.
They continued watching the drama while they ate. After enduring misunderstandings, schemes, unrequited love, and every other imaginable hardship, the male and female leads finally confessed their feelings and kissed.
Ahem, ahem. Fang Fei held his bowl and coughed several times. Sneaking a glance at Zhang Xu Yao beside him, he reached out and tapped the screen, skipping the episode forward fifteen seconds.
The image that sprang onto the screen was shaky and chaotic: torn clothing, tangled strands of hair, and a hand gripping the bedsheet tightly.
Low moans, intimate murmurs, and the sounds of souls colliding filled his ears, each one scorching Fang Fei’s ears hotter than the last.
This time, he immediately switched off the screen and buried his face in his bowl. His hair fell forward, hiding the crimson tips of his ears.
“Don’t like watching it?”
Warm fingers settled lightly against the back of Fang Fei’s neck, barely brushing the ends of his hair. His mechanical chewing abruptly stopped, and the hand holding his chopsticks trembled.
“I… don’t like it.”
The sound of a cigarette being pulled from its pack inexplicably made Fang Fei tense.
“You don’t like watching, but you like doing it yourself, is that it?” A fingertip gently rubbed at the roots of his hair, so tender that it made him uneasy. Bringing the cigarette to his lips, Zhang Xu Yao seemed to have only just remembered something. “Oh, right. I’ve even caught you kissing someone else before.”
Fang Fei carefully set down his chopsticks and tried to find an excuse to escape. “Teacher Zhang, how about I go do a math test paper?”
A hand suddenly clamped around the back of his neck, pinning Fang Fei in place. With a cigarette between his lips, Zhang Xu Yao slowly leaned closer. His gaze swept over the young man’s soft lips before rising to meet his eyes. “Did it feel good kissing them? Tell me.”
“Zhang Xu Yao… don’t do this…”
Pain tugged sharply at the roots of his hair. “Tell me!”
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