Chapter 77: Another Price [Arnis, 65%]…
He Yue lay on the president’s seat for a while, calming the arousal in his body. The rising and falling of his chest lessened, and he opened his eyes again. He didn’t speak, and Arnis, holding the armrest of the chair, remained kneeling.
The president lowered his head, his ears and neck a suspicious red that didn’t match his temperament.
(So innocent?)
He Yue, thinking he was just shy, silently complained, starting to believe that this skilled president had never been fucked in the mouth.
“Cough, cough… cough…” Arnis coughed violently, his cheeks flushed, his body trembling. He reached for the drawer of the president’s desk, but couldn’t maintain his kneeling posture from the coughing, and fell forward, his hands on the floor.
[Warning, the conquest target is showing signs of pseudo-insectoidization!]
He Yue was surprised for a second and quickly said, “What do you need? I’ll get it for you.” “Left… first drawer… white medicine bottle…”
When he looked up, neat, dark green scales had appeared on his jaw, quickly spreading upwards, soon covering half his face.
He Yue pulled open the drawer, rummaged through the miscellaneous items, and found a white medicine bottle, twisting the cap off and handing it to him.
Arnis, already on the verge of a crisis, didn’t care about the dosage and poured a handful of pills into his palm, swallowing them in one go. He struggled to support himself on the floor, sweat dripping down his scales.
He Yue, finally realizing, placed his hand on top of his head and closed his eyes, trying to mobilize his male insect soothing pheromones.
The president’s office was filled with a sweet floral scent, the cool sensation sweeping away the heat from his skin, seeping into his heart.
[Arnis, 65%.]
Arnis’s eyes flickered, and he supported himself with one hand on the floor, his other hand covering He Yue’s on his head. His palm touched the delicate, cool skin, and the pressure on his head became heavier because of his own weight.
He calmed down, and the scales on his face faded, gradually disappearing.
He Yue wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that the large female insect kneeling before him had shrunk a little. The custom-made suit, which should have been stretched taut in his kneeling position, now looked loose. Especially at his ankles, the part that had been pulled up now covered his ankles.
“Thank you…” Arnis said, his voice still weak.
“You’re welcome, it was nothing.”
It was nothing…
Arnis’s eyes lowered. “Master is as kind as ever.” (Just a little pheromone and he’s kind?)
He Yue interpreted this as this merchant-like female insect had never received any kindness. He had casually given him a little harmless soothing pheromone, and Arnis was so grateful.
“Your standard for kindness is quite low.”
He Yue said, turning to look at the drawer filled with miscellaneous items.
A black cat ear headband, a scorched piece of paper, an expensive-looking pen…
An exquisite rose-shaped candle.
He Yue took out the black cat headband and asked teasingly, “I didn’t know the president had such a hobby.”
“Black Sugar sheds a lot, so I made one with its fur.”
The handmade headband was exquisite, and only upon closer inspection could one see the traces of handiwork, the threads and needle holes.
“You made it yourself?” He Yue ruffled the soft black fur on the cat ears and asked.
Arnis nodded. “Just a small hobby.”
He Yue couldn’t connect Arnis, the president of a listed company, with an insect who liked to do small crafts and was so skillful.
“What’s wrong with you? Is it related to me?”
Getting sick right after giving him a blowjob, He Yue even wondered if this insect was allergic to semen.
“It has nothing to do with you, I was just too excited.”
The president, whose every daily item was high-end and expensive, now lowered his head and picked up the pills he had accidentally dropped on the floor, one by one, and put them back in the bottle. His movements were careful, even picking up the pill that had rolled to He Yue’s feet and putting it back in the bottle.
“Does the president also have such a frugal side?”
“A medicine that can’t be bought on the market, something money can’t buy back, of course, you have to cherish it.”
Arnis twisted the cap of the medicine bottle, and the strange scales on his face completely disappeared. He knelt before He Yue, once again becoming the calm and elegant figure he was at the beginning.
“Master, may I get up?” He changed his mind and said, “Or, would you like me to perform other services for you?”
“No, that’s another price.”
Although Arnis, as the service provider, had to pay himself, this time he had bought it with the sky-high breach of contract fee. He Yue was very clear that they were now in a purely monetary relationship.
A flicker of bitterness passed through Arnis’s eyes, his calm eyes filled with disappointment and loneliness. He smiled and replied, “I understand, Master. I wish you a successful art exhibition. If you need any help, please contact me at any time.”
He Yue stood up and took the file he had brought from his desk.
“Goodbye, Mr. President.”
It wasn’t until He Yue left the president’s office that Arnis braced himself against the chair and got up from the floor. His knees were sore from kneeling for so long, and his hands were hidden in the sleeves of his custom-made suit, the entire suit now hanging loosely on him.
There were worn marks on the knees of his suit. As an expensive fabric, it was also a “beautiful waste” that wasn’t very durable.
A recording pen was taken out from his suit pocket.
Arnis pressed replay, and the entire office was filled with He Yue’s moans.
Under the influence of the sound, his voice, which had been served by him, became soft and long, his comfortable sighs and soft moans during his arousal tugging at his heartstrings. As long as he closed his eyes, everything would replay. He would remember his slightly flushed cheeks and his lustful, unbearable eyes, the corners of his eyes red and moist when they filled with tears.
Only this time was different from the past, this time it wasn’t just sound.
The audio on the recording pen was rewound further, and it was also He Yue’s voice.
He said the exhibits at the auction were “not good-looking,” or told him to be careful with the loaded gun so it wouldn’t “go off.” Further back was his voice at the manor, when he was playing with Black Sugar, and when he was signing the contract…
It was no accident that this recording pen could completely record Oried’s evidence, because Arnis always carried a recording pen with him.
Arnis held the candle in his palm, carefully stroking the rose petal pattern on it.
The rose pattern on the candle should have been slightly sharp, but now it was very dull and blunt, almost unrecognizable. The gold powder that had been sprinkled on it was now only a few scattered specks, clearly showing its age.
…So, why did the kind Master casually save a desperate young female insect?
The effects of the medicine were slowly wearing off, and Arnis’s body was returning to normal, the bluish marks on his face fading, his shrunken body also returning to its original size. His throat was still dry and painful, the lingering scent belonging to his beloved Master.
The greedy possessiveness grew stronger, and it became even more difficult to control in his interactions with He Yue.
He now just wanted to keep that kind little cat by his side forever, with money, with anything…
Anything.
When He Yue returned to the studio, he saw Knasch kneeling in front of the cage, wearing the tassel ear clips. The fox was biting the handle of his collar, and a metal dog food bowl was placed in front of him.
The medicine from the box had been put into the household first-aid kit, and all the other guns and bullets had been thrown away and destroyed. Knasch had obediently cleaned up everything He Yue didn’t want to see, even though he had once cherished these hoarded tools as treasures and pride.
He had stayed here without eating or drinking, motionless like a statue.
He had once confidently said “a fox is not a little dog,” but now he only hoped He Yue would give him a chance to be a dog.
Just being a dog would be enough.
He Yue leaned against the door, silent for a long time. His silence always created an oppressive situation, like sucking the air out of the room, making the other person unable to breathe.
“I understand Master’s deep meaning…” Finally, Knasch couldn’t hold it in any longer and spoke first. “I won’t make a mistake again, I was wrong… Master, please give me another chance, I just want to be your dog…”
He pleaded desperately, repeating “Master can do whatever you want” countless times, trying to get He Yue to change his mind.
Even a little bit would be enough, as long as he could stay within the walls of the main gate.
“My house is still missing a guard dog.” He Yue stated calmly.
Even with such degrading words, the fox still wagged his tail, his eyes shining with excitement. “I can, I’m willing to be your guard dog. A fox’s teeth are very sharp, if a thief gets close, the fox can bite off his neck.”
He Yue lowered his eyes, his dangerous gaze sweeping over him.
The fox, his mind clouded with excitement, immediately realized his mistake, his ears drooping. “I… I was wrong, I’m sorry. I’ll be a good guard dog, I won’t bare my teeth randomly, and I won’t bite people randomly. Please trust me this once, Master.”
He Yue’s expression softened, and he pointed to the courtyard gate.
“Go, a guard dog doesn’t deserve a room. Hang the leash on the iron gate, from now on, you’ll live there.”
“Yes! Thank you, Master!”
Knasch, who had been abandoned, was overjoyed at this small bit of sweetness. He didn’t care about the hardship of sleeping at the gate, exposed to the wind and sun, nor did he care that being a dog was also a punishment. He grabbed his own collar leash and ran downstairs with the dog food bowl in his mouth.
His knees, which had been kneeling for a long time, were numb and sore, and he fell after a few steps, the metal bowl clattering on the floor. He scrambled up, afraid that He Yue would change his mind, and tumbled down the stairs.
He Yue couldn’t help but laugh at the comical scene.
He leaned against the window and saw Knasch wrapping the collar leash around the iron gate, even tying a knot for good measure.
(I told you the abandoned dog effect was good, right?)
The fox sat behind the iron gate, his head resting on it, lost in thought.
The abandoned dog effect was indeed good. A little dog abandoned by its Master would pitifully search for a way to make amends, and would magnify any small bit of sweetness a thousand times, achieving a good effect without needing any effort.
He Yue sat down on a chair and began to prepare for the art exhibition.
Many of the paintings that had been destroyed last time were gone, and the remaining ones weren’t enough to hold a grand solo art exhibition. He cooperated with Yiai Group and signed a long-term cooperation contract. The frequency of the art exhibitions was also up to him, and he even wanted to turn the art gallery into a personal museum after the exhibition opened.
This required more effort, and He Yue planned to take it step by step.
For example, now, the most important thing was to prepare eye-catching paintings for the first official for-profit art exhibition.
Even if he repainted the destroyed paintings, he couldn’t recapture the feeling of that time. When he tried to repaint them based on the photos uploaded by the insects on the optical network, He Yue always felt he couldn’t bring himself to do it. The aftermath of the fire was too great, and even seeing the former glory of the paintings in the pictures would remind him of the burning flames and black ashes.
He Yue’s paintbrush fell into the water bucket.
The spiritual and cultural life of the insect world was already impoverished, and with the Speaker’s bribery and suppression of for-profit art exhibitions, there were very few painters in the entire insect race. The loneliness of an artist was even greater than in the human world, and he didn’t even have an insect to talk to.
Arnis, as a sponsor, solved his financial problems; the fox and Wien, as his logistical support, helped him with all the reservations and publicity. Normally, He Yue only needed to focus on painting, but because of the fire, the fountain of his inspiration was blocked by a plug called “disaster,” making him incredibly irritable.
He lay on the studio sofa, frustrated, one leg dangling and swaying.
If only his painting mentor were still here… at least he could complain to him.
An artist?
He Yue jolted up from the sofa and picked up his optical device, flipping to the “???” marked craftsman. He had commissioned this mysterious craftsman twice before, and the other party had always been able to understand his design drawings and create works that satisfied him. They occasionally chatted, and the feeling of being on the same wavelength also brought them closer.
「He Yue: Do you know about the fire at the charity exhibition a while ago?」
「Craftsman: I know. I’m sorry for your loss, to have those paintings burned, it must be heartbreaking. I also went to that art exhibition, your paintings were as excellent as ever.」
「He Yue: As ever?」
「Craftsman: I’ve seen your paintings before you came to the insect world, you’re a very outstanding painter.」
He Yue remembered this insect had said he was transformed from a human.
「He Yue: Do you also paint?」
「Craftsman: I used to, but I haven’t touched a paintbrush in a long, long time.」
Used to means he has experience! He Yue finally seized the opportunity to discuss.
「He Yue: I finally got the approval for a formal art exhibition, but because of the fire, I can’t bring myself to repaint the destroyed works.」
「Craftsman: You don’t have to repaint them if you don’t want to, you can always paint new ones.」
「He Yue: Inspiration is hard to find! I don’t want to just let it go…」
The other party, who usually replied instantly, was silent for a long time after He Yue sent this message.
「He Yue: Are you still there?」
「Craftsman: Sorry, I was just watching the club’s activities. There’s a good magic show at the club this week, are you interested in coming?」
He Yue didn’t have a good impression of this insect world’s Castle club. The humiliation he had suffered last time was still vivid in his mind, and he really didn’t want to set foot in there again.
「He Yue: I don’t want to go to the club.」
「Craftsman: This magic show will definitely give you inspiration, I promise. I’ll book the whole place, the magician will perform only for you, and there won’t be any other club members there.」
He added.
「Craftsman: Kano and Oried won’t be there.」
So, in the gap where he hadn’t replied instantly, this mysterious craftsman had gone to confirm this. As one of the founders of the insect world’s Castle club, he should have known about He Yue’s last experience at the club.
This insect’s confident guarantee aroused He Yue’s rebellious spirit. He now wanted to see this magic show, maybe it could really help him complete the paintings needed for the art exhibition.
In the evening, when Wien came home from the base, he saw the fluffy white thing by the iron gate.
“What are you doing here?” Wien knew he had displeased his Master and had privately scolded him. He should have followed his Master’s wishes and driven the fox away, but he always saw his Master looking gloomy and thought he was also unhappy about it, so he didn’t.
Knasch, who had been dozing off from boredom, opened his eyes and said excitedly, “Master agreed to let me be a guard dog! Master didn’t kick me out!”
Wien sighed, he still understood his Master’s thoughts.
“I still need your help to stay up all night and look at the documents. We need to choose a location and submit the application letter as soon as possible, and also confirm the time and publicity. And since Master wants to hold a long-term art gallery, we need to make a plan, and even consider hiring security and other trivial matters in advance.”
Wien didn’t notice that he had completely confused the fox.
“In short, time is tight and the task is heavy. We can’t make a mistake like last time.”
Knasch nodded. “Give me the documents. Master won’t let me in, so I’ll work here.”
Wien, of course, wouldn’t let go of this very important and trustworthy workforce. Considering he was at the door and it was inconvenient to spread out the paper documents, Wien brought him a tablet computer. The electronic versions of the documents were all on the tablet, and he could also search for related information on the optical network.
“Let’s work hard, Knasch.”
“Of course!” Knasch, tied to the iron gate with a leash, was full of energy. As long as it was his Master’s business, he would do his best.
The lights at the club entrance were dazzling, a “Closed Today” sign hanging on the door. He Yue pushed open the door and entered. The craftsman was already waiting for him at the best booth, with a few cocktails already ordered.
The entire club was empty except for the female insects working as staff. Not just the club members, but also the club’s “public property,” which He Yue found an eyesore, were gone.
This female insect had only invited him to see a magic show.
The props for the magic show were already set up on the club’s stage – an exquisite oil painting, and a bottle of clean water.
The female insect was still wearing a black lacquer mask, revealing only his eyes and nose. A black coat covered his head, and he wore black leather gloves.
If it weren’t for the club’s lights, he, with no skin exposed, would have completely blended into the darkness.
“Come and sit, try the bartender’s latest bestseller.”
His voice was still a heavy mechanical sound, with a strong electric current after being processed by the machine, making it impossible to hear his original voice.
“Thank you.”
He Yue took a few sips of the cocktail. The refreshing taste slowly spread from the tip of his tongue, the spiciness of the alcohol well-balanced, the sweet and fresh scent his favorite.
“How do you know my taste?” He held the wine glass, his fingertips gradually turning cold.
The female insect paused and replied, “This is our most popular cocktail here, everyone likes it.”
The answer was standard, without any flaws, but it still sounded strange. He Yue didn’t pursue the matter, just sipped his wine and nodded.
The female insect clapped his hands, and the magician came on stage.
The stage lights focused on the center, and the lights below dimmed, all eyes on the painting illuminated by the light. It was an exquisite painting, with a similar charm to The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, bold brushstrokes and a story-filled scene, the entire canvas filled with magnificent colors. In the painting, a knight, his heart pierced by an arrow, faced a sea of fire, his blood flowing as he welcomed a glorious failure and death.
This was a painting full of tension, a painting that didn’t belong to this insect world, filled with a grotesque romantic style.
The magician placed a red silk ribbon in the middle of the painting, separating the knight from the raging fire. He moved the painting left or right, and the colors on it also changed.
The colors could become gray and dark, but they could also become brilliant again.
“Is it color-changing magnetic powder?” He Yue asked.
The female insect chuckled a few times, his mechanical voice an upbeat, pleasant tone. “Magic is a trick, it’s not so interesting after it’s revealed.”
The painting changed many times in the magician’s hands. Not only could the color blocks change, but the lines could also change. The fixed brushstrokes on the paper were now more like a moving screen.
He Yue, who had initially guessed it was color-changing magnetic powder, was now at a loss, captivated by the unpredictable magic, his eyes fixed on the painting, looking forward to what the magician would turn it into next.
The magician took out a match and lit the green mountain in the distance on the painting.
The painting caught fire, but the scope was controlled to the mountain, and a heavy fragrance filled the air. When the flame was extinguished, the originally green mountain had turned a deep red, as if soaked in blood, making the scene even more eerie and absurd.
“A good idea.” He Yue didn’t hold back his praise.
The magician looked at a female insect sitting beside He Yue, who had shown little expression, and received a nod. He extended his hand to He Yue and asked, “Does Master want to try?”
“Alright.”
He Yue walked onto the stage and took the box of matches from his hand. He struck a match and asked, “Where can I light it?” He knew there must be some special substance on the paint of the mountain, to control the scope of the burning and achieve the color-changing effect.
He liked this magic trick and didn’t want it to fail.
However, the magician replied, “Anywhere.”
Perhaps… many of the color blocks on the painting were coated with this magical paint?
He Yue brought the match close to the knight on the left, gradually letting the flame touch the painting, igniting a corner.
The scene he expected didn’t happen.
The flames quickly devoured the paper of the oil painting, burning the left side black, then turning it to ash, scattering in the air. Green smoke rose, the smell of burning paint pungent, the wooden frame of the painting crackling.
He Yue froze, the burning match still in his hand, not dropping it until the heat reached his fingers.
He reacted, his face pale, the familiar scene vivid in his mind, the heat of the flames scorching his face, making his eyes dry and sore. He desperately wanted to put out the fire, his mind in chaos as he puffed out his cheeks to blow, and when he realized it was useless, he raised his hand to pat out the flames.
“Xiao Yue!! Don’t use your hands!!”
The female insect grabbed his hand and hugged him from behind.
The magician at the side picked up a prepared bottle of water, twisted the cap, and was about to pour it on the painting.
“Don’t use water!” He Yue’s voice was a step too late. The water extinguished the flames, but also soaked the unsealed paint, making it smudge together and drip down.
“Xiao Yue, look at this painting.” The female insect held him, his hands restraining his outstretched arms.
The brilliant colors flowed over the scorched wooden frame and the burned-out parts of the painting. They added new colors to the black, the various colored water droplets forming streaks of different widths, passing over the still-visible outlines of the painting and the completely blackened wood.
It wasn’t completely destroyed.
He Yue took a step forward, breaking free from the female insect’s embrace.
He reached out, his finger pressing against a water droplet, smearing the paint on the hot wood into a new shape. His finger touched the scorched black, his pale skin stained with ash and paint.
The paint was limited, but the deep red covered the gray and black on the wood, the abstract deep red blocks, with just a few strokes, creating a new painting of grotesque beauty, like a bloodthirsty sky and a bottomless dark abyss.
At this moment, it was also art.
His fingers were also a bit hot, his whole hand stained with gray dust and paint.
Yes, from the beginning, he didn’t need to recreate the exact same painting. The state of mind when he picked up the brush was different each time, and he couldn’t completely replicate the feeling of that time.
In this world, there were no two identical paintings.
The cork blocking his inspiration was also burned away, and the nightmare was no longer a nightmare.
He stopped, turned his head, and looked at the female insect in black. “You really… went to great lengths…”
To arrange such a performance, to use the most practical way to help him get rid of his nightmare and find a source of inspiration. Although the method was a bit too direct, it was very effective.
This method was very much in the style of an old friend.
The female insect’s voice was processed by a machine, but you could still hear a softened, slow, gentle tone. “I just think, painting itself is what you see with your eyes, what you think in your heart. More impressive than art itself…”
“Is the disappearing art.”
They spoke in unison, saying the same words.
The magician had already discreetly left the scene, and under the spotlight on the stage, only the two of them remained.
He Yue crossed his arms and tilted his head, asking, “What did you just call me?”
The hand in the black leather glove was clenched into a fist, and the female insect’s mask concealed his expression, making it impossible to tell if he was guilty.
“It just slipped out, sorry for the offense.”
“The female insects here wouldn’t dare to call me that.”
He Yue’s hand pressed against his mask, and as he approached, he looked up at the female insect who was a head taller than him. This time, He Yue’s approach was not met with rejection or resistance.
“Your teaching methods are as direct as ever…”
The female insect’s hand pressed against He Yue’s, which was trying to pull off his mask. “Sorry, I don’t want to scare you, Master.” This polite distance was too deliberate for this female insect.
“Is the time not right yet? How long do you plan to hide from me?”
