Chapter 55 Ā· Acting Pitiful
At 5:10 PM, the bell signaling the end of class rang on time.
The last class was over. Duan Ke put his computer back into his bag, catching up with Heracles as they walked out of the classroom with the crowd.
Duan Ke opened his phone to search for nearby food recommendations. “What for dinner tonight? We seem to have eaten at all the nearby places…”
The corridor of the teaching building was noisy, and the stairs were crowded with people. Many students passing by Duan Ke glanced sideways, looking at him with surprise or blushing faces, but hesitated to approach because of the tall boy next to him.
Duan Ke stuck close to Heracles, walking downstairs.
Heraclesā body had returned to normal; he wasn’t wearing an eyepatch anymore. He glanced inadvertently at Duan Keās phone, raising an eyebrow in slight surprise.
“You still don’t plan to make up with him?”
“…Huh? What?”
“Think I can’t tell?”
Heracles crossed his arms. “Dragging me to dinner for three or four days in a row… haven’t you made up with that jerk yet?”
The two reached the bottom of the stairs, walking toward Heraclesā car. Duan Ke opened the passenger door and sat in, buckling his own seatbelt.
“Hasn’t he actively come to coax you all these days?” Heracles started the car. “The Inquisitor really is a jerk. Just dump him.”
On the first day of Duan Ke and Qin Huaiās cold war, he had confessed the matter to Heracles. It took Heracles several minutes to reluctantly accept this absurd fact.
The Westerner with sharp features looked terrible, confirming repeatedly that Duan Ke wasn’t being threatened. Finally, Heracles made Duan Ke tell Qin Huai to pay back the fine with interest before he pinched his nose and dragged his friend’s boyfriend off his assassination list.
Having his thoughts exposed by his friend, Duan Ke turned his face to look out the car window, scratching his cheek a bit embarrassedly.
“Actually, he has coaxed me…”
How could Qin Huai not coax him?
Not only did he coax, but it was a twenty-four-hour, non-stop, home-invasion style of coaxing. Duan Ke wouldn’t let him into the room, wouldn’t let him be intimate, so Qin Huai tried every possible way to make his presence known in front of his angry boyfriend.
Every time Duan Ke came home, he would find a tall man with a forbearing expression and pitiful demeanor standing silently at his bedroom doorāneither entering nor leaving, like a gatekeeping ghost.
Not only that, Qin Huai brazenly did many things. Including but not limited to making late-night snacks for Duan Ke, preparing hot bathwater and clothes in advance, and handing over a glass of warm water the moment Duan Ke raised his hand.
In short, Qin Huai didn’t let go of any trivial opportunity to brush up his presence. He arrogantly yet gently begged Duan Ke for forgiveness, repenting for his concealment.
In the simple Keeper relationship phase, Duan Ke had thought Qin Huai was a stoic man of action and few words, but he realized now that this cunning Inquisitor had really been holding back before.
Now that all secrets were out and the Inquisitor identity exposed, Qin Huai simply stopped pretending.
Bureau work schedules had to be reported; what he ate for work meals had to be reported. Even cutting his finger slightly on a monster, or having no energy for meetings after four days of insomnia from not being able to hold Duan Ke, Qin Huai would list them one by one, truthfully reporting to his boyfriend.
Even during the cold war.
Qin Huaiās “hot violence” was unreasonable but effective enough.
After a few days, Duan Ke wasn’t that angry anymore. But he held onto a breath of stubbornness, refusing to reply to Qin Huaiās 99+ messages every day, at most sending a “kitten angry” sticker.
“I feel that during a fight, you have to be tough. Otherwise, how can I win arguments in the future? Can’t talk to him so soon.”
Duan Ke resolutely turned off his phone and threw it aside. He asked, “Did you look at the data I sent you before? Where do you think this monster’s weakness is?”
The data Duan Ke referred to was the file he stole from the Bureau last time.
As expected, the Bureau’s data collection on the Dream Demon was fairly comprehensive. Source of power, criminal record, modus operandiāall listed in detail.
Despite this, the Bureau still hadn’t analyzed the monster’s true weakness.
After all, the ones encountered before were just clones; to get truly core information, one had to face the main body.
As they talked, the two arrived at the restaurant. They chose a Western restaurant Heracles frequented; not many people, but the food was good.
Duan Ke could eat both Chinese and Western food and liked both. Qin Huai cooked a variety of dishes for him; the menu at home hardly repeated. After a few months, Duan Ke had even gained a rare bit of weight.
Indeed, eating too much makes you fat, though which mouth ate was another question.
“Although not completely solved, that thing isn’t bouncing around as much anymore.”
Heracles cut his steak, speaking faintly. “Before, He was very active around City A; many monsters and humans were attacked. It’s decreased more than a little recently.”
Although neither said it explicitly, both knew very wellāit was Qin Huaiās doing.
Duan Ke could guess. During these days of unilaterally cold-shouldering Qin Huai, Qin Huai had been solving this matter. When Duan Ke wasn’t home or slept in the middle of the night, Qin Huai was rushing to take action, wanting to remove this safety hazard as soon as possible.
Heracles finished his steak, wiping his mouth with the napkin beside him.
“Are you going to find him? Shall I drop you off?”
Duan Ke choked on Heracles’ direct words. He tilted his head, curling the broken hair by his cheek to hide his embarrassment, gnawing on the small golden spoon used for ice cream.
“No… I’m still angry.”
“Go if you want to.” Heracles laughed. “You haven’t lifted your head in class today. Drop you home to find him?”
“He’s not at home right now…” Duan Ke admitted defeat. “He’s at the Bureau; he just told me on WeChat.”
“Then drop you home to wait for him?” Heracles said.
Duan Ke didn’t speak, glancing at Heracles somewhat evasively.
Heracles understood his meaning, surprised. “You want to go to the Bureau to find him? You aren’t scared?”
Scared, definitely.
Duan Keās impression of the Bureau was bad, very bad. He had seen a bloody execution scene during a physically and mentally fragile period; the shadow was truly large, not something Qin Huai could dispel with a few words.
To completely eliminate this fear, Duan Ke had to go to the Bureau to see for himself.
He wanted to figure out if Qin Huaiās execution principles were really as he saidānot cruel to the point of inhumanity, but reasonable.
Palm-sized Duan Ke Ball marched toward the interrogation room.
In fact, Duan Ke had full authority to use the front door. Qin Huaiās hug back then was completely a declaration of sovereignty; he didn’t cover Duan Keās face, letting all the Bureau subordinates see clearly.
Even if Duan Ke revealed his demon horns and tail, he could barge in unimpeded. But Duan Ke didn’t do that; he chose to infiltrate as a ball, taking the initiative.
Only when Qin Huai was unaware would he see the most truthful scene. He couldn’t notify his boyfriend before checking up on him, right?
Duan Ke Ball dodged left and right, twisting his round but agile body, infiltrating the basement perfectly.
The Bureauās magic detection was completely ineffective on him now. But Duan Ke didn’t know this, still maintaining one hundred percent caution, facing a formidable enemy.
There were many cells, hundreds in a row.
But Duan Ke found the target quickly because it was too obvious. Several soldiers stood in front of a cell, everyone quiet, even wearing fearful expressions, brows furrowed tight.
Duan Ke looked at these frightened humans, his heart full of mixed feelings. He extended a short paw, clinging to the pipe on the ceiling, following the soldiers’ gazes to look inside the room.
The concrete grey floor mixed with blood, turning a weird dark color.
Qin Huai was indeed there.
He was dressed neatly now, meticulous, but not as complete as Duan Ke had seen that day. No epaulets, and the military boots were a relatively lighter style.
Qin Huai lowered his eyes, wiping blood from the side of his face very casually. The young officer pressed his gun against a Snake Demon in front of him, rolling up his sleeves to reveal a firm, dark forearm.
The bruise on Qin Huaiās arm was very obvious, forming a patch. Only Duan Ke knew how this injury came aboutāit was from four days ago, whipped hard by his tail.
Duan Ke stared blankly at that wound, unable to speak.
He suddenly remembered that Qin Huai had worn long-sleeved pajamas for the past few days. Qin Huai was blocked outside the room by him, naturally couldn’t be intimate, so for four days, Duan Ke hadn’t discovered it at all.
Doesn’t the Bureau have healing pods? Why doesn’t this person go get treated?
Duan Ke felt stuffy inside, an indescribable tasteāheartache mixed with anger.
His tail wagged unconsciously and wildlyāa rare sign of irritability. Qin Huaiās voice brought back Duan Keās attention. The tone was lighter than he had ever heardānot cold, not fierce, just emotionless, like a machine.
“Number C118. Last night at 11:57:32, you appeared at the District 9 Military Hospital, attacking a doctor in surgery, causing 4 deaths and 7 injuries. Crime Level B.”
“Do you plead guilty?” Qin Huai asked.
From Qin Huaiās tone, Duan Ke could tell he didn’t expect this thing to answer, just going through a procedure.
This B-class monster had no reason, completely a monster without thinking ability. It hissed, struggling fiercely, weird mucus dripping from its fangs.
Duan Ke had never seen such a monster; the whole ball was stunned on the spot.
He watched blankly. Qin Huai fired not long after, expressionlessly passing over the corpse on the ground, moving to the next one. He faced the irrational monster, continued the inquiry process, and fired again.
The subordinates beside him were also like machines; their job seemed to be collecting the corpses Qin Huai left behind. Everyone watched quietly, waiting for todayās execution to end.
Qin Huai fired about thirty shots, finishing the work.
In four days, killing thirty or forty Dream Demon clones continuously, plus insomnia from lacking Duan Ke, Qin Huai was truly a bit tired. His eyelids drooped lazily as he wiped the hot barrel in his hand.
Without warning, a intuition hit him. Qin Huai didn’t stop wiping the gun, looking outside the cell as if sensing something, but saw nothing.
Although he saw nothing, Qin Huai still hooked his lip corner faintly, lowering his gaze again.
The little guy really has guts; caught once and still doesn’t learn.
Qin Huai reviewed his performance just now, sighing heavily in his heart. Wondering if he scared the kid, how much Duan Keās anger had subsided, and how long he had to endure the cold shoulder.
Thinking of the likely cold bed tonight, Qin Huai sighed with genuine feeling in front of his subordinates.
The Inquisitor took off his gloves, stained with a bit of blood. He unlocked his phone and sent a message to Duan Ke.
[Baby, I miss you so much.]
[Just had dinner, don’t walk too fast, stomach will be uncomfortable.]
[I just worked continuously for a long time, now my hand is too tired to lift. Can I have a goodnight kiss reward tonight?]
Qin Huai looked at the screen for a few seconds, thinking he wouldn’t get a reply from his boyfriend, preparing to put away the phone.
But his phone vibrated suddenly; a new reply popped up. Qin Huai raised an eyebrow, looking at the chat box.
[…Is your hand really hurting?]
Why suddenly care about this?
Qin Huai didn’t understand, but he wouldn’t miss a chance to climb up the pole. Qin Huai sent a crying emoticon, then typed.
[Very painful, but a hug from you and it won’t hurt anymore.]
[Can we sleep together tonight?]
The subordinates beside him had cleaned up the corpses, standing at a loss, unsure whether to dismiss or not.
They looked at Qin Huaiās indifferent face, guessing in their hearts if there was another sudden monster riot. No one imagined the officer was sending messages completely inconsistent with his expression, ending with a crying cat head.
Duan Ke didn’t send any more messages; he called directly. Qin Huai accepted gladly, answering in front of everyone.
“Baby,” Qin Huai said in a low voice. “What’s wrong?”
“…Stupid.”
Duan Keās tone was a bit awkward. “I hit so hard back then, why did you leave it for so long? Didn’t go to treat it.”
“Couldn’t bear to.” Qin Huai looked down at the bruise on his hand. “Besides this, all your marks on me have faded… You won’t accompany me.”
Qin Huaiās voice was a bit low, perfectly pitiful. Duan Keās last bit of anger was completely extinguished by Qin Huai.
He stammered, “You, you come to your office.”
“Why?”
Qin Huai said, “I’m getting off work soon, Wife. Does Wife mean for me to work overtime and not go home? But the ingredients for late-night snacks are ready; I want to go back and cook for you.”
The subordinates beside him listened with faces like vegetables, cold sweat pouring, all lowering their heads pretending to be dead bodies.
“…I said you are so stupid! Come over now… hurry up!” Duan Ke said.
ć Author’s Note ć
Office!! It’s coming!!
Next chapter Qin Dog will be very S, especially S, intentionally fierce. Will carry a flavor of Little Black Room [Lop-eared Rabbit Head]
Actually, everyone should be able to tell, Little Ke likes being dominated sometimes. Qin Dog’s danger and fierceness excite him… scared yet unable to resist.
Matches made in heaven, lock them up!!
Recommended Reads
