Chapter 45 Part 1
“Just kidding.” Shi Xu’s finger remained on the ventilator tube, his smile captivating, yet his eyes held a chilling malice.
Shi Yan knew that if Shi Xu wanted him dead, he could easily sever the tube with his dagger, or simply pull it out, watching him suffocate, a humiliating and agonizing death.
“I met with Uncle Zhou yesterday. He told me a lot. For example, Ah Cheng didn’t disappear. He was consumed by the pollutant you kept. And he told me the truth about my sister’s death.” He enunciated each word clearly, his malice directed at Shi Yan like a venomous strike.
“After my sister’s death, I often wondered how she died, what you, as her father, did to her. I gave you too much credit, thinking you still had some affection for them.” His finger pressed against the ventilator mask, his gaze fixed on Shi Yan’s contorted face, his wide, terrified eyes, like a god looking down on a weak, insignificant human, pitying him, but not offering salvation.
Shi Yan’s breathing grew ragged, the mask fogging up with each panicked breath. He wanted to struggle, but he was too weak, unable to even move a finger.
“Haa… huh…” His neck, corded with strain, his Adam’s apple bobbing, he could only manage choked gasps.
After regaining consciousness, his desire for death had vanished. Having tasted power and control, how could he die now? He had to live, to find that golden egg, to erase his humiliation.
He would eliminate those who witnessed his weakness.
He wouldn’t give them another chance to mock him.
“Didn’t you want to die? In the basement, you seemed resigned to your fate. Why cling to life now?” Shi Xu pressed down on the ventilator mask, the pressure increasing Shi Yan’s agony.
“Huh… huh…” The fear in his eyes intensified.
He had always known this child was unstable, teetering on the edge of madness.
He could control Shi Xu’s brother with him, control his sister with Ah Cheng, but he could only control Shi Xu with lies and illusions.
Because he knew that once Shi Xu learned the truth, he would become uncontrollable, a consequence he didn’t want to face.
Now, Shi Xu had truly snapped, wanting him dead.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, the pressure on the mask vanished. Shi Yan, however, remained trapped in his fear.
“Tell me your secrets,” Shi Xu smiled. “I know what you value most. If you don’t want your pathetic state to be exposed, tell me everything.”
Shi Yan’s ragged breaths were his only response.
“No rush. I won’t let you die.”
Not yet.
“No matter how much you suffer, I’ll keep you alive, until you can speak. Then you’ll tell me everything. Understand?”
Shi Yan blinked slowly, his only way of responding.
Shi Xu was his most prized weapon, now turned against him. He finally understood the terror of having a blade at his throat. He wanted to end it, to impale himself on the blade, but he didn’t want such a humiliating death.
He wanted to die surrounded by praise and admiration.
So he clung to the hope that Shi Xu would save him. Shi Mu had killed all the espers he trained. Now, only Shi Xu could protect him.
Shi Xu felt nothing for him, not bothering to stay by his bedside. Qi Yu had assigned guards to watch him 24/7. After a few more one-sided threats, he left, ignoring Shi Yan’s hateful gaze.
The feeling of controlling someone’s life was intoxicating. No wonder Shi Yan enjoyed it so much.
It was a dangerous feeling. Shi Xu didn’t want to become addicted.
He didn’t want to see Shi Yan’s pathetic face any longer, afraid it would haunt his dreams.
…
It was evening when he returned home. The ground lights illuminated the path.
He heard Sui Sui’s giggles from afar.
A soft mat lay on the lawn. Sui Sui and Little Black sat on it, playing with a ball of yarn, rolling it back and forth.
The childish game seemed to amuse them, Sui Sui’s eyes crinkling with laughter, drool dripping onto his bib.
He looked like a normal human baby.
Gu Sui, sensing Shi Xu’s presence, rushed out, his eyes lighting up.
“Wife, you’re back!” Before he finished speaking, he was embracing Shi Xu.
The force of the impact made Shi Xu stumble. Gu Sui steadied him, preventing him from falling.
He nuzzled Shi Xu’s cheek, his voice filled with excitement. “Wife, I… missed you… so much! Next time… take me… with you… Wuwuwu… I don’t know… how I… survived… without Wife…”
“You survived just fine,” Shi Xu tried to pull away, but Gu Sui only held him tighter, his clinginess overwhelming.
“I… suffered…” Gu Sui nuzzled his nose against Shi Xu’s. “Wife, for my… obedience… can I have… a reward?”
Shi Xu asked, playing along, “What reward?”
Gu Sui’s breath brushed against his lips. “A kiss.”
Shi Xu smiled, wrapping his arms around Gu Sui’s neck, pulling him closer. “You want a kiss?”
Their breaths mingled, Gu Sui’s eyes shining brighter than the ground lights.
“Yes!”
Just as their lips were about to touch, Shi Xu pushed him away, walking towards Sui Sui and Little Black.
“Little dad…” Sui Sui had seen him earlier, but hadn’t approached because of Gu Sui. Now, seizing the opportunity, he abandoned the yarn and the cat, crawling towards Shi Xu.
He could speak now, but he still couldn’t walk. But a crawling baby was cute. Shi Xu stopped, waiting for him, then picked him up.
“Little dad…” Sui Sui called, kissing both his cheeks.
The wetness on his face was uncomfortable, but Shi Xu didn’t mind, returning the kisses.
Sui Sui giggled happily, then froze under a sharp glare, quickly hiding his face in Shi Xu’s chest, seeking comfort.
Gu Sui, suppressing his jealousy, went to the kitchen, preparing dinner with a resigned sigh.
After dinner, Shi Xu played with Sui Sui for a while before putting him down.
Gu Sui sulked in the corner, radiating negativity.
Shi Xu thought, if this continued, mushrooms would start growing around him.
“Anything happen while I was gone?”
Gu Sui, hugging his knees, looked up at him pitifully, his answer not quite addressing the question. “Wife… gone for… one day… doesn’t love… me anymore…”
“…”
Shi Xu nudged his hand with his knee. “Speak properly.”
Usually, his stern tone would make Gu Sui obedient, but he had been too lenient lately, emboldening Gu Sui, making him less fearful.
The moment his knee touched Gu Sui’s hand, Gu Sui grabbed his leg.
“Wife… doesn’t… love me… anymore… Wuwuwu…”
Shi Xu: “Stop faking it.”
Gu Sui looked up, blinking his wet eyes, as if proving his tears were genuine.
“If you don’t want to answer my question, then we have nothing to talk about.” Shi Xu remained unmoved, kicking him away. As he turned to leave, he felt a warm body press against his back.
Gu Sui’s head rested on his shoulder, his voice filled with grievance. “I’ll… speak properly… Wife… don’t be angry…”
Shi Xu: “You provoke me, then try to appease me. Don’t you think you enjoy being punished?”
Gu Sui was indeed a masochist, always returning for more, even after being subjected to Shi Xu’s cruelest punishments, even asking, “Wife, did… you… feel good? If not… continue… As long as… Wife… is happy…”
His answer was predictable. “I… like… being punished… by Wife.”
Shi Xu remembered his often-repeated phrase: Domestic violence is illegal.
He patted Gu Sui’s arm. Gu Sui loosened his grip slightly.
Shi Xu turned around, kissing his lips. The previously dejected Gu Sui instantly smiled, his arm tightening around his waist. “Wife, more…”
Shi Xu: “Answer my question first.”
With this single-minded creature, he had to offer rewards for information.
“Two pollutants… came today… one at noon… one in the afternoon… I killed… both.” His tone suggested he deserved praise.
Shi Xu’s eyes narrowed, lost in thought. Shi Yan, having kept the pollutant that consumed Ah Cheng, could easily keep more. These two were probably sent to retrieve the golden egg. But considering Shi Yan’s current state, he doubted it.
Were they simply attracted by Sui Sui’s scent?
“Wife… don’t worry… I’ll… protect you… and baby…”
Shi Xu smiled.
There was no point worrying. No one would give him a definitive answer.
Remembering the golden tentacle that protected him from Shi Mu’s attack, a thought occurred to him. “After you sever your… fragment… will it regenerate?”
Gu Sui: “Yes, but… slowly… There’s a way… to make it… faster…”
Shi Xu: “How?”
Gu Sui’s fingers traced his waist. “Need… Wife’s… help…”
Shi Xu’s voice softened. “Should we… do it?”
Gu Sui, surprised by his unexpected offer, eagerly captured his lips, his answer conveyed through the passionate kiss.
Of course. And he would do it thoroughly.
He wanted Shi Xu, once wasn’t enough, his desire insatiable.
Lin Quan still hadn’t had any proper rest. Having just dealt with a Variant outbreak in District X, he returned to submit his report, only to be assigned two new tasks by Director Shen—
Investigate Shi Mu’s connection to the pollutant.
Locate and eliminate any other pollutants kept by Shi Yan.
These weren’t easy tasks. Director Shen didn’t trust anyone else with them.
After several sleepless nights, Lin Quan looked haggard, the two new tasks weighing heavily on him.
Was this what Shi Xu endured every day?
How did he manage to remain so composed?
If not for experiencing it himself, he wouldn’t have understood the pressure Shi Xu was under.
His cheeks burned with shame, realizing how ignorant and petty he had been.
And he realized how much stronger Shi Xu was. He was already struggling.
Lin Quan learnt his lesson a bit late.