Chapter 62: The Hypocritical Senior 04 Part 2

As soon as Yu Sui got home, he headed straight for the bath. He felt utterly uncomfortable all over.

He soaked in the tub for a long time until his skin started to prune before finally getting out.

Only once he was sure Li Xia’s scent was gone did he relax.

Dressed in his sleep robe, his face dark and brooding, he ignored the dripping water from his hair.

No, this collaboration was just the beginning. There would probably be more…

Yu Sui changed into fresh clothes and drove to Li Xia’s neighborhood.

With practiced ease, he let himself into the apartment and left behind the item he’d brought.

After his shower, Li Xia emerged, wondering if opening the door might reveal the senior.

But when he flung the door open with eager anticipation, no one was there.

He blinked in confusion, quietly buttoning his shirt as doubt crept in.

After dealing with his clothes, he stepped out and casually asked a staff member about Yu Sui.

He learned the man had already clocked out and gone home.

Li Xia pressed his lips together, but soon a smile lit his eyes.

He must be shy, too embarrassed to face me.

He went to his room and lodged a complaint about the work.

Yu Sui stepped out of Li Xia’s apartment and waited for the elevator. When the doors slid open, he stepped in—and brushed past a man on his way out.

Yu Sui’s body went rigid. A chill ran down his spine, his face paling.

It was Su Shan.

His hand tightened in his pocket, his heart leaping into his throat.

Ding—

Just as the doors closed, the man turned to look back.

But with the hat and mask obscuring his face, Yu Sui couldn’t make out his expression.

Su Shan watched the elevator descend, then casually unlocked Li Xia’s door.

On the table sat the Horror Doll, along with a letter.

What was this?

Su Shan frowned in confusion.

Weren’t they head over heels for each other?

He arched a brow but didn’t touch anything else, slipping out quickly.

When Li Xia got off work late that evening, his steps were light. But…

That unknown number hadn’t sent any more texts, leaving him a touch disappointed.

Back home, he flicked on the lights—and spotted the creepy doll sprawled on the sofa, staring right at him.

Li Xia didn’t even furrow his brow. He walked over and picked it up. A gift from Yu Sui?

Maybe it was the rose-tinted glasses, but he actually found the doll’s grotesque features somewhat endearing.

Spotting the letter on the table, he opened it. As he read, his smile slowly faded.

The note called him disgusting—that liking men was utterly revolting.

Yu Sui…

Li Xia’s hands trembled, his eyes turning icy cold.

He strode to the bedroom and pulled up the surveillance footage on his computer.

Yu Sui had left the letter. And Su Shan had come back afterward.

Li Xia stood, his expression growing deadly serious. He turned and headed out the door.

Yu Sui had been on edge all day and had a bit of wine that night. He fell asleep quickly.

Su Shan let himself into Yu Sui’s home as if it were routine. Spotting the wine bottle on the table, he picked it up for a closer look, something flickering in his eyes. Then he headed for the bedroom.

Yu Sui hadn’t locked the door.

His footsteps were nearly silent.

Su Shan reached the bedside and, in the dim moonlight filtering through the window, studied the sleeping man.

A faint flush colored his cheeks—likely from the alcohol.

His skin glowed red too, scrubbed raw by his own hands.

Su Shan arched a brow and slowly leaned down, staring at that face. All sorts of thoughts raced through his mind.

Ding-a-ling—

The phone on the nightstand rang.

The drunk man stirred at the noise, frowning faintly.

Su Shan glanced at the screen—Li Xia. Not surprising at all.

But Yu Sui was about to wake.

Su Shan quirked a brow and slowly slid under the bed.

Yu Sui’s head swam with haze, the relentless ringing grating on him. He groped for the phone. “Hello?”

“Senior,” Li Xia said, concern lacing his voice.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Sui asked, puzzled.

“My place… that person…” Li Xia trailed off hesitantly.

Yu Sui snapped awake, sitting bolt upright. “What?”

“That person broke into my home and left some creepy stuff.”

“Did you call the police?” Yu Sui asked, worried.

“No use.” Li Xia sighed. “I’m downstairs at your complex now. Senior, I’m scared to go home tonight. Can I crash at your place?”

Yu Sui’s expression turned grim at the request.

“I’m not home,” he said awkwardly. “I’m at a friend’s tonight.”

Like hell he’d let him come over and play the damsel to worm his way into his arms.

Under the bed, Su Shan frowned in bewilderment.

Wasn’t scaring Li Xia into depending on him Yu Sui’s whole goal?

Relieved to hear he wasn’t home, Li Xia exhaled. “Alright then. I’ll get a hotel for the night.”

His voice dripped with pitiful vulnerability.

“Be safe on your own,” Yu Sui said gently.

Su Shan grew even more baffled. He was so patient with Li Xia—why refuse him now?

Yu Sui hung up and let out a breath of relief.

He rubbed his brow and muttered under his breath, “What a clingy pain.”

Su Shan froze. Who was clingy?

“That kid’s still trying to pull tricks on me.” Yu Sui grumbled as he flicked on the bedside lamp, heading for the bathroom.

He bent to slip on his slippers—and froze, body tensing.

There were water stains on the floor.

It hadn’t rained these past couple days, but the ground had stayed damp. Yet his shoes when he’d entered the bedroom had been dry. This…

Yu Sui eyed the closet. Not a likely hiding spot.

His gaze followed the faint water trail. The bedsheet at the foot was rumpled. If not for the lack of shoe prints, he might not have noticed.

Yu Sui swallowed hard, his back stiffening.

He rose slowly and shuffled unsteadily to the outer bathroom, as if still groggy from the wine.

He locked the door, flipped on the light, and splashed cold water on his face to clear his head.

“There’s… someone under my bed,” he whispered to the System, his face draining of color.

[What?] The System sounded shocked.

Yu Sui bit his lip, fingers trembling.

He thought of Su Shan—and how he’d spotted him leaving Li Xia’s place.

He’d definitely seen him that day. Had he been recognized?

He voiced his suspicions.

[It’s probably him,] the System replied. [Don’t go out. We’ll just hide.]

Yu Sui wiped sweat from his brow. “If Li Xia hadn’t woken me by some fluke…”

[In the plot, you target Li Xia. Su Shan saves his brother while striking back at you. You don’t dare touch the elusive top, so you go harder on the bottom.]

“Bully the weak and fear the strong, huh?” Yu Sui felt a chill.

[No immediate life threat for now.]

“Not comforting at all,” Yu Sui said wryly.

Lying under the bed, Su Shan pieced together Yu Sui’s words.

The man seemed to hate Li Xia.

So Li Xia had been the one deluding himself?

Su Shan grinned. He hadn’t expected this day to come for him.

But why had Yu Sui been gone so long?

He recalled Yu Sui muttering as he prepared to get out of bed—then nothing.

Staring at the water stains on the floor above, Su Shan knew he was made.

What would he do?

Anticipation stirred in him.

Yu Sui didn’t dare leave the bathroom, terrified someone might be waiting outside.

But he couldn’t stay forever.

He bit his tongue to steady himself and pulled out his phone, scrolling for someone to call.

Not his assistant. Not colleagues…

His expression soured. In the end, the only person he could contact was Li Xia.

Damn it.

He dialed.

Li Xia hadn’t left yet; he was pondering why Yu Sui wouldn’t let him upstairs.

Just then, the call came in. His eyes lit up as he answered. “Senior.”

“Have you made it home?” Yu Sui asked with concern.

“Not yet.”

“Then come to my place,” Yu Sui said. “I wouldn’t feel right leaving you alone at a hotel tonight.”

Li Xia’s lips curved upward. So he did want him upstairs after all.

“Weren’t you at a friend’s?”

“We live in the same complex,” Yu Sui explained.

“Oh, got it. I’m on my way.”

He hung up and headed into the complex, his steps light and quick.

Yu Sui heard the knock at the door and finally cracked the bathroom open.

“Li Xia?”

“Senior.”

Relief washed over Yu Sui. He hurried to open the door.

Li Xia looked at him and blinked in slight surprise.

The man wore a thin sleep robe that hung loosely from his frame, exposing large swathes of skin—skin that was now faintly flushed.

As expected, the excuse about staying at a friend’s house was fake. Had he dressed like this on purpose?

But why was it so red…

“Senior, are you having an allergic reaction?” he asked, worry in his voice.

Yu Sui let him inside and shook his head. “Clothes made from that material make me itchy.”

“Is that so?” Li Xia stared straight at him. “Did you go to the hospital?”

Yu Sui sighed. “It’s psychological, not a skin condition.”

“That must hurt so much,” Li Xia said, concern filling his eyes.

Having Su Shan for comparison made Yu Sui realize he could tolerate Li Xia’s gaze after all.

He straightened his clothes and invited the young man to sit.

“Has Senior been drinking?” Li Xia asked. His eyes flickered toward the red wine on the table.

Would Senior invite him to join?

“Sometimes I have a glass after work,” Yu Sui replied. “By the way, what about your home…”

He voiced his concern.

“I can’t call the police,” Li Xia said, tugging at the corner of his mouth. “My brother’s too elusive. What if he gets targeted…”

Yu Sui sighed and glanced toward the bedroom.

The two chatted for a while.

Li Xia felt a twinge of regret at missing the chance to drink with his senior, but he was thrilled to be staying at Yu Sui’s place.

He let out a yawn.

Yu Sui had no choice but to let him freshen up.

He stood and looked toward the bedroom, a troubled expression crossing his face.

Yu Sui didn’t dare sleep there, but he also couldn’t tell Li Xia about his brother. If Su Shan revealed what he’d done, Yu Sui’s reputation would be shattered, and the mission would be doomed.

But letting the other sleep in the master bedroom felt completely bizarre…

“What should I do?” he asked the System for help.

[Why don’t you share the master bedroom with Li Xia?] the System suggested.

“But…”

[He’s fixated on your brother anyway. Just don’t give in, and it’ll be fine,] the System said, urging him not to overthink.

“He might sneak a kiss or hug me…” Yu Sui wasn’t reassured in the slightest.

[Then what do you suggest?] The System had no other ideas.

Su Shan, in the master bedroom, heard the sounds. He narrowed his eyes. Had Li Xia called him back because of me? Or what?

Whatever the reason, anything Li Xia cared about, Su Shan would destroy.