Seeing that Yan Heqing was leaving the complex, the security guard asked, "Will you pick it up tomorrow, or...?"
Yan Heqing smiled. "Tomorrow morning. Sorry for the trouble."
After leaving the complex, Yan Heqing took a taxi to the bar.
The bar was just as lively on a weekday. There were plenty of people at Feng Zhixian's table, but he was distracted, repeatedly glancing toward the counter.
A young man sat beside him, his tone sour. "You can stare all you want, Feng. It won't do any good. It's Tuesday. Yan Heqing isn't working today."
Feng Zhixian ignored him, grabbed the cigarette pack on the table, and pulled one out. Just as he was about to light it, a familiar figure walked into the bar.
Feng Zhixian immediately tossed the cigarette aside, got up, and hurried over.
The young man followed Feng Zhixian's gaze and was instantly stunned.
Fuck! Yan Heqing actually came!
"What brings you here, Xiao Yan?" Feng Zhixian's eyes were smiling.
"To pick something up," Yan Heqing said flatly. He went into the staff room.
Feng Zhixian still didn't leave. He leaned against the counter and waited.
A few minutes later, Yan Heqing came out without having changed into his work clothes. Feng Zhixian asked, "Leaving already?"
Yan Heqing had no intention of talking to him and moved to walk around him.
"I haven't been drinking," Feng Zhixian suddenly blurted out.
Yan Heqing stopped. Feng Zhixian hooked his car keys out of his pocket, his smile suggestive. "Can I drive you home today?"
Events could be calculated accurately, and so could some people, especially those with too many desires.
Yan Heqing glanced coolly over Feng Zhixian, then nodded after a moment. "All right."
Throughout the drive, Feng Zhixian kept asking about Yan Heqing, who answered a few inconsequential questions.
As they drove into the complex, Feng Zhixian surveyed the old apartment buildings and had another idea.
He had just asked: Yan Heqing didn't own a place. He was renting.
"Xiao Yan, a friend of mine has an apartment downtown. He's moved abroad, so he can't use it, and he's renting it out. It's a newly renovated, spacious single-floor apartment with a river view. The surroundings and transport links are good too. If you're interested..." He hinted, "I could put in a word for you. He wouldn't even charge rent."
"Thank you, but I'm fine living here." Yan Heqing looked ahead. "That building up ahead, by the used-clothing collection bin."
Feng Zhixian slowed down and eased to a stop. He looked at Yan Heqing expectantly, hoping Yan Heqing would invite him upstairs for a drink.
Yan Heqing unbuckled his seat belt. "Thank you." He opened the door and left.
Feng Zhixian froze. That was it? He hurried out of the car after him. "Xiao Yan!"
Yan Heqing turned back, his tone level. "My place is small. It's not convenient for having guests over. There's a good café by the entrance to the complex. Would you like something? My treat."
Feng Zhixian was at a loss for words, embarrassed as though his thoughts had been exposed.
But he soon smiled. "Xiao Yan, do you think I only like you because I want that?"
Yan Heqing said nothing.
Feng Zhixian wanted to take out a cigarette, but after glancing at Yan Heqing, he gave up on the idea. "That really wasn't it today. I genuinely like you."
This was the first time Feng Zhixian had felt this way.
He did have some dirty thoughts, but he really had never considered forcing himself on Yan Heqing.
When he suggested going upstairs, he really had simply wanted to see where Yan Heqing lived.
Feng Zhixian scratched his head. "It's too late for coffee. I'll take a rain check on that drink. Good night."
Feng Zhixian turned, got into his car, and drove away.
At the same time, the motion-activated light upstairs went out. Lu Muchi closed his call history. He had called Yan Heqing over a hundred times.
Yan Heqing hadn't answered once.
Yan Heqing went upstairs. Ignoring the pile of cigarette butts outside his door, he took out his key and calmly inserted it into the lock.
Click.
The door had barely opened when a figure lunged at him from behind.
Lu Muchi grabbed Yan Heqing's shoulder, hauled him inside, and slammed the door. Clamping a hand around Yan Heqing's neck, he pinned him against the door.
The lights were off. Only a little light filtered through that small window.
Lu Muchi's face was hidden in the darkness. A man had driven Yan Heqing home, and he couldn't suppress his anger. His hand tightened around Yan Heqing's neck. "Did you let that man fuck you?"
With his throat gripped, Yan Heqing had some difficulty breathing, but he merely stared coldly at Lu Muchi. His words weren't very clear, yet they were utterly firm. "Stop insulting me. I'm a person, not an object."
Lu Muchi froze, but only briefly. He sneered a few times. "I've put up with you long enough. Yan Heqing, know your place. You belong to me."
"I hate it when other people touch my things."
His grip tightened further.
Yan Heqing's breathing grew rapid. He was so starved of oxygen that he couldn't speak.
Seeing Yan Heqing's face nearly contort, Lu Muchi loosened his hand slightly, watching him gulp down air with a complicated gaze.
In just a few days, the boy had grown even prettier. His face was starting to fill out, and even in the darkness, his skin looked silky smooth. His long, distinct lashes were like two little brushes.
Something stirred in Lu Muchi's heart. His thumb stroked the skin of Yan Heqing's neck. It was cool, unlike Lin Fengzhi's delicate warmth.
Lu Muchi was a little bewitched by the sensation.
Utterly repulsed by his touch, Yan Heqing raised a hand to push him away. Lu Muchi
easily
caught Yan Heqing's hand.
He gazed deeply at Yan Heqing. Compared with Lin Fengzhi having someone he liked, the fact that a man had just driven Yan Heqing home actually upset him more.
"Yan Heqing, I'm fucking you tonight."
Lu Muchi's voice was hoarse. He reached a hand toward Yan Heqing's chest to undo his coat.
"No one can stop me!"
In the dim light and shadows, the depths of those light brown eyes were a bottomless abyss.
The instant Lu Muchi touched a toggle and was about to undo it, two cool, thin lips uttered a name.
"Lin Fengzhi."
Yan Heqing's tone was flat. "I found him. My biological younger brother."
Chapter 12: 012
Lu Muchi stopped moving, his entire body rigid.
Yan Heqing's few lightly spoken words had the force of an atomic bomb, blasting his mind into a blank void.
Yan Heqing had found him!
He had found Lin Fengzhi!
How had he found Lin Fengzhi?