Part 2
Jiang Zhaosheng kept the man’s neck locked in an iron grip, the blade held firmly against his vital point as he backed toward the black sedan that was still idling at the warehouse door. His eyes were like a hawk’s, coldly scanning the subordinates who didn’t dare act rashly.
“The keys,” he commanded.
One subordinate looked at Shen Qiming. Receiving a nod, he tossed the keys over.
Jiang Zhaosheng quickly pulled open the car door, shoved the man roughly inside, and immediately slid into the driver’s seat. The engine roared, and the car shot out like an arrow from a bow, grinding over gravel as it plunged into the pitch-black night.
Almost simultaneously, the roar of engines and the screech of tires erupted from the warehouse behind them. Several pairs of headlights lit up in the rear, giving chase relentlessly!
The suburban roads were narrow and bumpy. Jiang Zhaosheng floored the accelerator, the steering wheel spinning wildly in his hands. The car jolted violently at high speed, repeatedly shaking off the vehicles trying to flank him.
In the passenger seat, Shen Qiming, whose neck had been cut, didn’t seem panicked. He even adjusted his posture to be more comfortable.
The blood on the side of his neck had begun to clot slightly, but the line carved by the blade was still striking.
He turned his head, looking at Jiang Zhaoshengâs tensed profile and those eyes burning with a cold fire as they stared at the road ahead. He suddenly laughed lowly, breaking the tension inside the car.
“Zhaozhao,” he spoke, his voice still carrying that nauseating lilt. “Your driving is still as beautiful as ever, just as wild as before.”
Jiang Zhaoshengâs jaw tightened. He said nothing, executing a sharp fishtail to avoid a collision.
The man in the passenger seat acted as if he felt no danger, continuing in that tone, which now even held a trace of nostalgia:
“Remember? You were like this before, driving my car, charging out without a care for anything…”
“Back then, I thought, this rose with thorns… one day, I would have to personally…”
He didn’t finish his sentence.
Without warning, Jiang Zhaosheng suddenly let go of the steering wheel with his right handâat the exact moment the car skimmed past a roadside guardrail at a perilous angle!
A flash of cold light!
The thin blade he had been holding between his fingers flew out, accurately and ruthlessly grazing the man’s cheek!
“!”
The blade sank deep into the carâs interior.
The affectionate expression on the man’s face vanished like a torn mask. “Shen Qiming” jerked his head aside as a sharp sting radiated from his cheek.
The blade hummed with vibration.
First, there was a cut in the silicone texture, followed by a long, thin trail of blood slowly appearing below the man’s cheekbone. Beads of blood seeped out, mirroring the wound on his neck and completely ruining that nearly 100% replicated face of Shen Qiming.
Only the roar of the engine and the whistling wind outside remained in the car.
Jiang Zhaosheng didn’t even turn to look at him. His right hand had already returned steadily to the steering wheel, executing another thrilling drift to shake off a pursuer trying to overtake them. His voice was so cold it practically dropped shards of ice, every word carrying unmasked disgust and murderous intent:
“Imitate his voice and tone again…”
“And the next cut will be through your vocal cords.”
“Qin. Yi. Chuan.”
Qin Yichuan was one of Shen Qimingâs trusted aides. They weren’t aware of the inner details between Jiang Zhaosheng and Shen Qiming, assuming that Jiang Zhaosheng had “betrayed” Shen Qiming because of a broken relationship.
Having his identity exposed directly, Qin Yichuanâs expression instantly became extremely complexâthere was shock, the embarrassment of being seen through, and the frustration of a failed plan.
As he peeled off the silicone mask, a flash of “as expected, it still didn’t work” dejection even crossed his face.
Jiang Zhaosheng had shaken off most of the pursuers and spared a glance.
Qin Yichuan no longer tried to maintain that affectionate face, nor did he make any more “wickedly charming” expressions. He sat with a tense face, the corners of his mouth downturned, looking a bit angry and a bit sulky.
He was silent for a few seconds, seemingly processing his failure, before speaking gloomily in his original, much younger voice, asking stiffly:
“Dammit… how did you recognize me?”
It wasn’t a real question, as he didn’t wait for Jiang Zhaoshengâs answer, muttering indignantly:
“I studied him for so long… and I even formulated his pheromones to be exactly the same.”
“You could never learn to be like him,” Jiang Zhaosheng interrupted, his tone decisive. Aside from contempt, it carried a trace of irritation as if he couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Qin Yichuan was choked by those words. He craned his neck to argue, his voice rising:
“How am I not like him?! Height, weight, voice frequency, micro-expression habits, pheromone composition… I even simulated the fluctuations of his rut! There shouldn’t be any flaws!”
His tone was like a student who had put in massive effort only to receive a low grade, arguing for the value of his hard work.
…Still the same old stubborn way.
Jiang Zhaosheng almost laughed out of anger. He jerked the wheel to avoid a car, squeezed a sentence through his teeth:
“And so? You think you were quite hardworking? You want a reward?”
“Otherwise?!”
Qin Yichuan practically blurted it out. Having said it, he felt it wasn’t right, pursed his lips, and looked out the window at the passing scenery. The tips of his ears turned slightly red as he realized he was being stupid again.
A bizarre atmosphere settled in the car.
After a long while, Qin Yichuan couldn’t help but turn back. His gaze fell on Jiang Zhaoshengâs face, his eyes complex. He hesitated but braced himself, speaking in a dry, “reasonable” tone:
“About that… I only imitated him because of you. Shen… Boss, he needs your biological information… you have to come back with me. This is very important…”
His words were once again interrupted by Jiang Zhaoshengâs actions.
Jiang Zhaosheng slammed on the brakes!
The tires shrieked as the powerful inertia threw them both forward!
Qin Yichuanâs forehead gave a light “thud” against the windshield, and his vision blurred.
Before he could react, Jiang Zhaosheng had unbuckled his seatbelt and lunged! His left hand grabbed the man’s collar, slamming him hard against the seatback. A flash of cold lightâthe tip of the knife was instantly pressed below his Adam’s apple!
Jiang Zhaoshengâs eyes were pitch black, surging with rage. His hot breath fanned against Qin Yichuanâs instantly frozen face.
“Qin Yichuanâ”
“Your nonsense is as boring as you are. Mention the name ‘Shen Qiming’ to me one more time, and I’ll make you shut up forever. Do you understand?”
Outside, the headlights of the pursuers were rapidly approaching.
Inside, Qin Yichuanâs eyes widened as he stared at the enraged Jiang Zhaosheng at close range. The tip of the knife below his Adam’s apple was bone-chillingly cold. He opened his mouth as if to argue, but in the end, his Adam’s apple just bobbed up and down, and he gave aćĺą (sullen/aggrieved) nod.
“…Understood.”
He answered in a muffled voice, completely tamed for now, but the depth of inquiry and persistence in his eyes as he looked at Jiang Zhaosheng didn’t diminish in the slightest.
Jiang Zhaosheng let out a cold snort and released his grip on the collar.
He sat back in the driver’s seat and floored the accelerator. The car shot back into the night, momentarily putting some distance between them and the ever-closing pursuers.
Qin Yichuan was only quiet for a few minutes. He stole glances at Jiang Zhaoshengâs exquisitely carved profile, his gaze scanning the tightly pursed lips and high bridge of the nose.
When did he grow his hair long? Jiang Zhaosheng used to cross-dress frequently for missions; he liked utilizing his appearance, but in private, if he were placed on the losing end, he would likely make that person “bleed” in a literal sense.
But Jiang Zhaoshengâs current look… it was impossible for Qin Yichuan not to be greatly surprised. He still remembered the moment he reunited with Jiang Zhaosheng in the secret room at that Italian man’s auction.
Long hair suited him too well.
His original, aggressive beauty was neutralized by a maternal aura, turning into a hazy moonlight that one could follow into dreams. He had only “helped” that day, but heâd had to take a cold shower every day since returning.
Moreover, the dependency Jiang Zhaosheng had shown toward Shen Qiming that day had indeed provoked Qin Yichuan.
Feelings of frustration, indignation, and concern churned in his heart.
Having torn off Shen Qimingâs mask, Qin Yichuan truly couldn’t hold it in. He spoke again, his volume much lower this time, unable to hide the stubbornness of a young man:
“…How are you doing these days?” He paused, as if fearing Jiang Zhaosheng would get angry again, his speaking speed quickening. “I don’t know if youâre tired. If you want to retire, you can tell the Boss directly. Heâll definitely let you rest…”
Jiang Zhaoshengâs knuckles turned white on the steering wheel once more. He didn’t even bother to threaten with the knife, merely letting out a low, sneering laugh from his throat, filled with annoyance.
This cynical sound was like a thorn, lightly piercing through Qin Yichuanâs pathetic attempt to express his swelling goodwill.
“What are you laughing at?” Qin Yichuan was a bit annoyed, but mostly confused. “I’m serious! Shen Qiming feels like the kind of partner who’s very ‘straight Alpha’… maybe a bit of a ‘daddy’ vibe, but his original intention definitely wasn’t to hurt you!”
“Partner?” Jiang Zhaosheng finally favored him with a look as if he were an idiot. The man’s voice was naturally beautiful, and his sarcasm sounded like singing. “Qin Yichuan, did you forget to bring your brain when you went abroad? What kind of relationship did you think he and I had? Was it playing house?”
“Listen to your toneâ’Mommy and Daddy, please make up.’ Are you mentally challenged?”
Qin Yichuan was younger than him. He was so stifled he couldn’t catch his breath, his cheeks flushing red:
“Of course I know it wasn’t playing house…”
“…Isn’t it just because I don’t stand a chance either…”
“Shut up!” Jiang Zhaosheng interrupted him harshly. His hands were trembling slightly, his teeth chattering with a violent energy that was nearly out of control. “Don’t mention that name to me again. You don’t know anything!”
Being scolded so suddenly, Qin Yichuan instinctively shrank his neck. Seeing the rise and fall of Jiang Zhaoshengâs chest and the almost painful ferocity in his eyes, the urgency in his heart began to surface again.
“I don’t know?” He couldn’t help but raise his voice, carrying a resentment of being looked down upon. “I know he did a lot of… bad things to you.”
He chose his words carefully, trying to avoid the detonation point:
“I know he controlled you, all those entanglements between you…”
The more Qin Yichuan spoke, the more he felt he had grasped the key:
“Youâd rather escape and live in hiding than accept Shen Qimingâs protection because you loathe his marking, right?”
Jiang Zhaosheng said nothing. The light and shadows outside the window swept across his expressionless face, flickering.
Qin Yichuan took his silence as tacit agreement. Complex emotions surged in his heartâthere was disdain for a “rival’s” actions, sympathy for Jiang Zhaoshengâs ordeal, but more than that, there was an impulse to break through Jiang Zhaoshengâs defenses.
He softened his voice slightly, trying to appear more reasonable, though it still sounded a bit stiff. “But… but it already happened. Hating him won’t solve the problem. Itâs very dangerous for you now, not just because of the people outside, but also the issues with your body… we have the most complete records and equipment over there; we can help you stabilize. I… I can help you.”
He paused, as if making a major commitment, and added:
“I can also use my pheromones. Though they might not be as compatible as Shen Qimingâs, I’ll find a way. Itâs better than you struggling on your own.”
To Qin Yichuan, this speech was a heartfelt, sincere offer. He even felt a bit noble, willing to serve as a “stand-in” to provide Jiang Zhaosheng with pheromones.
However, to Jiang Zhaosheng, every word stepped precisely onto his landmines, foolish to an outrageous degree.
“Help me?” Jiang Zhaosheng finally turned his head slowly to look at Qin Yichuan. His gaze no longer held the previous rage or murderous intent, only absurdity and pity. “Qin Yichuan, what level of IQ and confidence have you used to survive until today?”
Qin Yichuan was stunned. “…What?”
“The reports you read?” The corner of Jiang Zhaoshengâs mouth curled into an extremely cruel arc. “Were they the kind filled with ‘unrequited love,’ ‘sadistic romance,’ and ’emotional disputes’? What you read was likely the script Shen Qiming fantasized about before his death.”
“You think I hate him just because his possessiveness was too strong? That I need him because of a physical defect?”
Being watched like this made Qin Yichuan uneasy. He instinctively asked: “…Is that not it?”
“Heh,” Jiang Zhaosheng turned back, focusing on the road ahead, dropping a bombshell in a cold tone. “He was indeed a ‘die-hard straight Alpha’ with a ‘daddy’ vibe. But that is the most insignificant part.”
“Guess why I have a defect?”
“It was him. He modified my body to turn me into a monster that relies on his pheromones.”
“He made me wear a ridiculous wedding dress to satisfy his fantasies, and to see if pheromone dependency would override reason under extreme humiliation and pressure.”
“Take your self-righteous, melodramatic imagination and pack it away,” Jiang Zhaosheng paused, a trace of uncontrollable trembling seeping into his voice before he forcibly suppressed it. “While I was living a life worse than death, you were still wishing me and your Boss a ‘long and happy marriage.'”
“And now, youâre trying every possible way to take me back to that man’s side, calling it ‘helping me’?”
[Authorâs Note: Thatâs right, the person in the secret room was a cosplayer commissioned for the job. Shen Qiming didn’t come.]
[Qin Yichuan: How did you know I wasn’t Shen Qiming?]
[Jiang Zhaosheng: . (Won’t say even if beaten that it was the calluses on the hands)]
[Jiang Zhaosheng: (Explains everything)]
[Qin Yichuan: Holy crap, no one notified me…]
[The shift from “Mommy and Daddy please make up” to “Itâs good your husband is dead” only takes a moment [Pity]… This is a ‘younger man’ trope (nianxia). It feels like there are so many MLs (counting fingers).]
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