Chapter 92: Reward
Lu Ciheng was a man of action. After concluding that he didn’t kick the blankets, he immediately put his “takeover” plan into motion.
Xie Shibai felt he must not be awake yet—that he was sleepwalking. Otherwise, why would he see the 193cm Lu Ciheng claiming to be afraid of thunder?
The Beagle-in-his-prime, pretending to be pitiful, placed his pillow on Xie Shibai’s bed. He patted the bed, his eyes shining with anticipation rather than any of the fear he claimed.
Xie Shibai crossed his arms and stared at him. “Are you really afraid of thunder?”
Lu Ciheng took Xie Shibai’s hand and placed it on his abs, his expression calm. “Touch it. It’s beating so fast; the thunder really gave me palpitations.”
The logic didn’t matter, as long as it worked.
Xie Shibai, feeling the rock-hard abs: “…”
“Your heart grows here?”
Lu Ciheng pulled Xie Shibai’s hand upward. “I was too nervous and missed the spot.”
Xie Shibai was truly speechless. He withdrew his hand, and just as he was about to say something, his gaze fell on Lu Ciheng’s face. After a few seconds, he said, “Roll to the edge and sleep.”
Lu Ciheng’s dark eyes instantly lit up. He immediately looked very well-behaved as he slept on the edge of the bed, a distance away from Xie Shibai. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Xie Shibai glanced at the gap between them and said nothing. Just as he lay down and the sheets rustled, a body with a high temperature pressed against him from behind.
Sturdy arms wrapped around Xie Shibai’s waist, and a strong scent instantly enveloped his senses. The hug from behind was very tight, leg against leg. Lu Ciheng’s high nose nuzzled the back of Xie Shibai’s head, smelling the fragrant hair.
The Lu Ciheng who had just promised to be on his best behavior was now hugging him tightly.
Lu Ciheng gently nuzzled Xie Shibai’s hair. His dark gaze fell on the pale nape of the neck. The collar of the loungewear was wide, and as the other slept on his side, the view followed the curve of the white neck downward. His canines felt a bit itchy; he wanted to bite down hard on that neck and leave his own mark.
Xie Shibai’s hair was scattered on the pillow. His neck was exceptionally sensitive from the hot breath. The moment Lu Ciheng pressed against him, his skin hunger’s craving for contact began to surface, intensifying with every touch. His cheeks grew slightly warm from the heat. He gripped Lu Ciheng’s hand that was across his waist.
Lu Ciheng lowered his head and nuzzled Xie Shibai’s neck. His throat rolled as he whispered, “Xie-laoshi, can I take a bite?”
Even as he asked, his canines were already grinding lightly against the skin.
Xie Shibai’s spine felt numb. He gripped Lu Ciheng’s arm. “Are you a dog?”
Lu Ciheng restrained the urge to bite down hard, grinding gently instead. His teeth applied a bit of pressure, leaving a moderate bite mark on the pale neck. His low, husky voice was filled with a smile. “I am Xie-laoshi’s puppy.”
With a visible bite mark left on the white neck, Lu Ciheng’s possessiveness was strangely satisfied. He nuzzled the spot with affection and dropped several kisses. His large palm covered the soft abdomen. His calloused thumb hooked into the hem, bringing a faint itch.
Xie Shibai grabbed Lu Ciheng’s hand as the temperature behind him continued to rise.
Lu Ciheng pecked the hair near Xie Shibai’s ear, his dark eyes somewhat deep. His voice was slightly raspy. “Xie-laoshi, do you want to…”
Xie Shibai immediately said, “No.”
Lu Ciheng paused, nuzzling him clingily and pecking his cheek. “Why? Is it not refreshing?”
Xie Shibai was lazily drowsy. It was refreshing, but it took too long and his hand got tired. “My hand is sore.”
Lu Ciheng’s eyes sparkled. “We’ll change the method this time.”
Xie Shibai was slightly confused, then felt something touch his leg. The calloused palm made his skin itch, followed by a wave of heat. Lu Ciheng pressed against him with a wet kiss, his breathing getting heavier.
Xie Shibai’s spine trembled as he was licked wetly. He panted, the air feeling a bit damp, causing a mist to form in his eyes. Lu Ciheng was like a warm, large dog, nuzzling back and forth. The skin felt like soft cotton.
Xie Shibai’s black hair was a bit messy, feeling damp. Even his body felt damp. The small red mole was touched and polished again and again until it turned a brilliant red. Like soft cotton being ground over and over, it became soft and fluffy, trembling slightly with every touch. After a long time, the cotton eventually turned into a vivid red core.
During the break between recording the variety show, Xie Shibai didn’t have time to rest. Ye Yingpu was extradited back to the country and confessed that Xu Ruixin was the one who hired him. This was a double blow to the already chaotic Xie family.
When Xu Ruixin was taken away for investigation, Xie Shibai received several calls from Xie Lingxi. He didn’t need to answer to know what his younger brother would say.
The mastermind behind Old Man Xie’s car accident was also being investigated. Xu Ruixin was very cautious and rarely contacted people directly, so the investigation took some time. But if something was done, it would leave a trail. Her attack on Old Man Xie was dug up along with the hired murder case.
Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng were victims and had to cooperate with the police. At the same time, Xie Shibai could visit as a family member. He saw a Xu Ruixin who was different from her usual refined and arrogant self.
The pressure and crisis of the official investigation had kept Xu Ruixin awake at night. She had heavy dark circles, and her complexion looked haggard compared to the jewel-bedecked Mrs. Xie of the past. Only upon seeing Xie Shibai did her expression instantly turn sinister.
Xu Ruixin straightened her hair. The sinister expression only lasted for a few seconds before she immediately adjusted back to her familiar gentle stepmother persona—as if to deceive people, or to cover up the evidence of the murder. She acted as if Xie Shibai and everyone else had wronged her.
“I heard you were shot while recording abroad. Poor child, are you okay?”
Xie Shibai said calmly, “Thanks to you, I’m still alive. If you hadn’t found someone with such terrible aim, you probably wouldn’t be seeing me.”
Xu Ruixin gritted her teeth, though she still had a smile on her face. “What are you saying? How could Aunty do such a thing? There must be a misunderstanding. Hurry and tell them; our family relationship is very harmonious. This can’t be happening. It must be a mistake.”
Xie Shibai: “The police will investigate whether it’s a mistake or not. I only came to tell you one thing. Xie Lingxi has taken out high-interest loans because he couldn’t pay back the debts from his business gambles.”
Xu Ruixin froze, her eyes widening and her palms tightening. She told herself to wait for Xie Huacheng to find someone to bail her out; she could help Xie Lingxi pay off the debt. But thinking about how Xie Lingxi’s debt was Xie Shibai’s doing, Xu Ruixin hated him to the bone.
“You had Chen Qisheng set Lingxi up, ruining your own brother’s future. Someone like you—”
Xie Shibai: “Are you waiting for Xie Huacheng to save you?”
An ill omen rose in Xu Ruixin’s heart.
Xie Shibai said, “It’s useless. He can barely protect himself. The current Xie family can be stepped on by anyone. No one is going to go to the trouble of helping a criminal whose evidence chain is about to be secured.”
Xu Ruixin: “Don’t talk nonsense. I didn’t do it. Xie Shibai, why don’t you reflect on why someone wants you dead?”
“You are redundant.” Xu Ruixin laughed. “You shouldn’t have existed in this world. You only bring misfortune to those around you. Ming Yu was killed by you; you cursed her to death.”
Xie Shibai looked at Xu Ruixin with a cold gaze. “Do you think that because so many years have passed, there’s no evidence?”
Xu Ruixin suddenly froze.
Xie Shibai said in a low voice, “Not a single thing you did will be forgotten. Stop dreaming. You’ll never leave this place in this lifetime. Xie Huacheng is the same.”
Xu Ruixin’s face turned grim. “I should have let Ye Yingpu kill you back then! Ye Yingpu, that idiot, couldn’t even handle such a small thing!”
Realizing what Xie Shibai wanted to do, anxiety began to spread in her heart.
Xie Shibai’s eyes rested on Xu Ruixin, a mocking smile on his lips. After Xie Shibai left, Xu Ruixin still believed Xie Huacheng would find a way to get her out. After all, it wasn’t the first time they had done such things. In the circle of the wealthy second generation, being locked up was the last thing to fear; they had plenty of ways to get people out.
Xu Ruixin waited for a long time but never saw Xie Huacheng. It wasn’t until Ye Yingpu confessed everything and the evidence was secured that she was sent to the detention center, still full of resentment.
The transfer to the detention center was done in batches. Before getting into the car while handcuffed, Xu Ruixin saw Xie Huacheng—also handcuffed—passing by the window. Her eyes went wide, and she pounded on the glass with all her might, but it was to no avail.
Xie Huacheng wanted to make a comeback. To raise startup capital, he targeted the side branches of the Xie family who had also received money. After a round of smooth talk, he got a new set of funds.
But once a man has fallen, he excessively wants to prove himself. Xie Huacheng had been trapped in the label of “mediocre and incompetent” all his life, and had even been eclipsed by his own son. Having been suppressed his whole life, he couldn’t stand being looked down upon by his strict father. His only achievement was managing the Xie Corporation for that period after Old Man Xie’s car accident.
After tasting power, Xie Huacheng’s heart grew greedy. Bankruptcy wasn’t enough for him; he craved being respected and was determined to make a comeback on his own.
Xie Shibai grasped his psychology and gently laid out some bait. The ambitious Xie Huacheng took the hook with ease. The side branches of the Xie family were just like Old Man Xie—profit-seeking wolves who couldn’t be tamed. If they didn’t get meat, they would devour people whole. Xie Shibai didn’t even need to lift a finger; the side branches would naturally find ways to suck the blood from Xie Huacheng until he was crushed and discarded as worthless.
As per protocol, when Xie Huacheng entered the detention center, Xie Shibai went to visit. The family visit process was simple. After completing the formalities, Xie Shibai saw a Xie Huacheng with a shaved head, wearing detention center clothes. He looked very haggard. Upon seeing Xie Shibai, his face immediately filled with rage, and he began a barrage of insults through the intercom.
“It’s all your fault your old man turned out like this! You jinx! Why didn’t you die out there when you went missing? You make so much money and don’t show a bit of filial piety! You unfilial son!”
Looking incandescent with rage, Xie Huacheng seemed to vent all the anger of this period onto Xie Shibai. Angry and violent—just as he had always been.
The guard nearby couldn’t stand it and interjected, “If you’re going to be noisy, go back.”
Xie Huacheng immediately turned into a dud firecracker, gritting his teeth and lowering his voice. “The business gamble Xie Lingxi was stuck with—that was your doing? The charges against Xu Ruixin were also your doing. You freak who attacks your own family—you’re a mentally ill person just like your mother. Your grandfather valued you so much; is this how you repay the Xie family?”
Xie Shibai looked at him quietly. “Father, those clothes suit you better than a suit.”
Xie Huacheng: “What do you mean?”
Xie Shibai looked at him coldly. “I will certainly work hard to make sure you wear them for the rest of your life.”
Xie Huacheng clenched his fists. Before Xie Shibai left, he roared, “You freak! Do the Lu family kids know you have mental illness? You’re just like your mother; sooner or later you’ll have an episode and turn into a temperamental lunatic.”
The voice was muffled by the intercom. Xie Shibai hung the receiver back up. With a bang, the guard who had long been annoyed pinned Xie Huacheng to the table, warning him to control his emotions.
Xie Shibai left the visiting room. The sunlight fell on him, but Xie Huacheng’s words still echoed in his ears. The wind felt a bit cool. The next second, a jacket was draped over him. Lu Ciheng’s arm wrapped around his shoulders, sticking close. A radiant smile was on his face. “Finished with the visit?”
His body became warm. Xie Shibai gave a soft “Mm.”
The two walked toward the parking lot. The moment the car door closed, a shadow fell over Xie Shibai. Lu Ciheng propped himself in front of him with a grin, his thumb grinding against Xie Shibai’s cheek. His dark eyes observed him carefully for a while. After confirming he wasn’t in a terrible mood, he said, “Xie-laoshi, give your puppy a reward kiss.”
Translator’s Note:
- Detention Center: In China, suspects are held here before trial.
- 2nd Generation Circle: Refers to the “Fuerdai” or wealthy second generation, known for using family connections to evade trouble.
- Reward Kiss: Lu Ciheng’s way of comforting Xie Shibai by redirecting his focus to their relationship.
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