Chapter 34 Part 1
To Gu Sui, any command from Shi Xu, besides being told to leave, was a reward.
Pollutants were inherently greedy. He craved Shi Xu’s taste, a single touch not enough to satisfy him.
He watched Shi Xu’s every subtle expression, emboldened by his relaxed posture, his lips and tongue moving upwards, licking the back of Shi Xu’s hand, then sucking gently on his wrist bone, like a lollipop.
Shi Xu watched him intently, not stopping him, silently consenting. This fueled Gu Sui’s desire, making him bolder.
He emerged from under the table, his knee pressing against the edge of the chair, his body close to Shi Xu’s leg.
As he grew larger, a transparent barrier covered the window. They could see outside, but from outside, it looked like Shi Xu was simply sitting at the desk, lost in thought.
Gu Sui cupped Shi Xu’s face, his touch gentle, not forceful like Shi Xu’s, tilting his chin up. His nose brushed against Shi Xu’s. Shi Xu didn’t respond, neither welcoming nor resisting, a silent invitation.
His lips gently touched Shi Xu’s, a tentative, fleeting touch, their eyes locked.
“Wife, can… I… kiss you?”
His warm breath brushed against Shi Xu’s lips. Shi Xu smiled faintly. “You already did.”
Gu Sui: “Can… I… continue?”
Shi Xu’s silence and lingering smile were consent enough.
Gu Sui eagerly captured his lips again, no longer a gentle touch, but a fervent assault, a desperate need to possess, to consume, to claim Shi Xu as his own.
The wet sounds echoed in the room.
Shi Xu’s lips were slightly swollen by the time he pushed Gu Sui away. Gu Sui captured the silver thread connecting them, drawing it into his mouth. Before Shi Xu could catch his breath, Gu Sui’s lips returned, licking the remaining moisture from his lips before finally retreating.
Shi Xu took a few deep breaths, then, seeing Gu Sui still perched on the armrest of his chair, said softly, “Get down.”
Gu Sui obediently moved back, bumping into something. They both froze.
“What is it?” Shi Xu looked behind Gu Sui.
Gu Sui reached back, pulling out a thick, golden tentacle, unlike any Shi Xu had seen before. “It… came out…”
The pollutant had many tentacles, most thin and thread-like, the thickest only as wide as a finger. This one, however, was several times thicker, and the same shimmering gold as its eyes.
“What is this?” Shi Xu’s curiosity was piqued.
Shi Xu wasn’t repulsed!
Taking this as a positive sign, Gu Sui proudly presented the golden tentacle. “Wife, do… you… like it? Can… you… touch it?”
Shi Xu: “…”
His desire was unmistakable.
Touching a pollutant’s tentacle was like touching a human’s most sensitive area, arousing.
Ignoring the golden appendage, Shi Xu asked, “What is it?”
The golden tentacle, denied affection, drooped dejectedly.
Suppressing his disappointment, Gu Sui explained, “My… power… is sealed. It’s… slowly… returning. This… is… proof.”
Shi Xu’s mind raced, memories surfacing—
Months ago, during their fight, Gu Sui’s original form hadn’t resembled an SSS-class pollutant at all. It was just a transparent blob, somewhere between a jellyfish and an octopus.
Many, upon seeing it, had assumed they had been misinformed. How could such a creature be SSS-class?
Their underestimation led to their defeat. Only Shi Xu remained.
Months ago, upon seeing Gu Sui, Shi Xu hadn’t thought much of it. Now, he vaguely recalled his first encounter with Gu Sui in the world rift at the age of 17. Gu Sui’s original form then wasn’t what he had seen later.
The rift was too dark. He could only see Gu Sui’s golden eyes. Exhausted from battling countless pollutants, he was easily captured by Gu Sui, unable to fight back.
The tentacles that bound him then were very similar to this golden one.
Even without concrete evidence, Shi Xu had a strong suspicion. “This is your true form?”
The golden tentacle in Gu Sui’s hand wriggled, its tip nodding, as if confirming his words.
Gu Sui quickly agreed. “Yes.”
Shi Xu looked at the thick, golden tentacle, his expression complex.
He finally understood. This was what the tentacle that first captured him looked like.
No wonder.
With his skills back then, escaping two or three tentacles wouldn’t have been a problem, but not that many, and he had no idea how many this pervert actually possessed.
Shi Xu didn’t want to dwell on this embarrassing memory. Another question arose. “How are you regaining your power?”
Gu Sui winked, saying shyly, “Kissing… Wife…”
Shi Xu: “…”
Shi Xu: “I’m being serious.”
Gu Sui’s expression turned serious. “I… am… too.”
Shi Xu: “…”
Having spent considerable time with Gu Sui, Shi Xu believed he understood him somewhat. Given Gu Sui’s obsession, he wouldn’t lie.
Nor would he downplay his strength, fabricating stories to deceive him.
So, his claim was true.
What kind of power restoration method was this?
Preposterous!
“Wife, I… didn’t… lie! If… you… don’t believe… we can… try again…” Gu Sui leaned closer, anticipation in his eyes.
“Try again?” Shi Xu asked, playing along. “How?”
Gu Sui’s knee, still pressed against the edge of Shi Xu’s chair, nudged his leg, rubbing gently.
He parted his lips, licking them suggestively. The implication was clear.
If it were any other method, Shi Xu might be curious. But this…
He pushed Gu Sui onto the table, his own chair rolling back, creating distance.
“No, thank you.”
Gu Sui sighed inwardly, knowing when to retreat. He had already kissed Shi Xu once today. He had to appear content, even if it was a performance.
He had recently learned a new idiom: to take things slowly, step by step.
One kiss today, more in the future.
Eventually, he would have Shi Xu all to himself, all day, kissing him to his heart’s content.
Cheng Fan, deeply shaken, remained unconscious until evening.
Shi Xu’s shift ended. It seemed Qi Yu’s words, “You’re destined for overtime,” were about to come true, but someone arrived to relieve him.
It was one of Qi Yu’s subordinates, sent as a temporary replacement.
Qi Yu’s subordinates respected Shi Xu. The newcomer avoided his gaze, showing no resentment at being assigned this menial task.
Compared to Chen Han and his group, his attitude was exemplary.
An hour before his shift ended, Shi Xu had sent Gu Sui home. Gu Sui hadn’t actually left, waiting for him on the less-traveled path he usually took.
This area wasn’t a busy commercial district, and after the frequent pollutant incidents, most businesses had relocated. Besides the residents, no one came this way.
Gu Sui waited for nearly an hour, seeing no one, which reassured him.
As soon as Shi Xu appeared, Gu Sui rushed to meet him.
Shi Xu wasn’t startled, letting Gu Sui embrace him. The familiar scent made him slightly lightheaded.
Gu Sui meticulously cleaned himself every day, wanting to appear presentable for Shi Xu, using his shampoo and shower gel, his body carrying Shi Xu’s scent.
Shi Xu was sensitive to smells, having searched long and hard for products he liked, using them for years.
In that sense, he and Gu Sui were alike, creatures of habit.
The familiar scent was comforting. He didn’t resist the embrace, only signaling Gu Sui to release him when his hand reached for his waist.
“Didn’t I tell you to go home?” He lightly swatted Gu Sui’s hand.
Gu Sui rubbed his hand dramatically, murmuring, “I… want to… go home… with Wife.”
“Why?”
Wasn’t it better to go their separate ways?
Gu Sui: “Wife, you… must be… what they call… online… a straight man…”
“…” Shi Xu, “What do you mean?”
Shi Xu wasn’t internet-savvy, unfamiliar with online slang. His understanding of “straight man” was limited to its literal meaning: heterosexual.
He suspected Gu Sui meant something else.
With an “I knew you wouldn’t understand” expression, Gu Sui explained, under Shi Xu’s warning gaze, “You’re… not romantic.”
Shi Xu chuckled. “I don’t think going home together is romantic.”
Gu Sui: “That’s why… you’re… a straight man!”
Shi Xu glanced at him. Gu Sui immediately patted his lips. “I… didn’t… say… anything bad… about Wife.”
“I know,” Shi Xu said calmly. “Let’s go home.”
Gu Sui beamed, about to hug Shi Xu again, but this time, Shi Xu dodged.
Gu Sui’s smile faltered, but seeing Shi Xu walking away without looking back, he abandoned his pretense of dejection, jogging to catch up.
“We’re… out of… groceries… Wife. Let’s… go shopping… What… do you want… to eat… tonight? I’ll… cook…” He tugged on Shi Xu’s sleeve.
Shi Xu, his expression neutral, felt a warmth spreading within him.
He disliked ordering groceries, preferring to shop in person, usually buying enough for three days.
Ever since Gu Sui gained a human form, grocery shopping became his responsibility.
Of course, Shi Xu paid. Otherwise, Gu Sui would only offer gems.
Aside from Qi Yu, Shi Xu had never gone grocery shopping with anyone. He hadn’t thought much of it before, whether alone or with Qi Yu.
But somehow, grocery shopping with Gu Sui felt… intimate.
Like a real couple.
Gu Sui would wait for him after work, they would shop together, then return home, have dinner, and then…
Shi Xu had always wanted a normal life, but he chose Gu Sui, a non-human. His wish, from the start, was impossible.
But Gu Sui, despite being a pollutant, was more “normal” than him, providing him with the normalcy he craved.
Having chosen to be with Gu Sui, he shouldn’t resist.
He should embrace it.
Shi Xu pulled his sleeve away from Gu Sui’s grasp, hearing his disgruntled murmur, “Wife… so stingy… Can’t even… hold… sleeve?”
He knew Gu Sui was pouting.
He didn’t turn around, extending his hand, palm open.
He didn’t say anything, but Gu Sui understood, his voice filled with excitement. “Holding… hands?”
Shi Xu’s voice remained flat. “Forget it if you don’t want to.”
He started to withdraw his hand, but Gu Sui grabbed it, holding it tightly.
Not satisfied with a simple handshake, Gu Sui intertwined their fingers.
He heard Gu Sui’s happy sigh. “Like… holding hands… with Wife.”
A voice echoed in Shi Xu’s heart: He liked it too.
“Wife’s hands… so soft… I like…”
Shi Xu: “…”
“Wife’s fingers… so sweet… Want… to lick… again…” Gu Sui licked his lips, savoring the memory.
Unashamed of his desires, he added, “Wife, I… make… dinner… tonight? If… you’re happy… can I… lick…”
Shi Xu said coldly, “Shut up!”
Gu Sui: “Okay~~~”
City S had nearly a thousand espers, but only a select few, after rigorous testing, joined the Anomaly Management Bureau.
Chen Han knew joining the bureau wasn’t the end goal. He aspired to climb the ranks, from vice-captain to captain, then to deputy director and director. He was prepared, but he was stuck at the starting line.
Like many others, he had heard of Shi Xu, dreaming of becoming his friend.
Reality, as always, defied his expectations. He became Shi Xu’s subordinate, defeated by him on his first day, lasting less than 10 seconds.
His colleagues comforted him. “Your score is good. Some couldn’t even last 5 seconds. You’re already very capable.”
Like many others defeated by Shi Xu, Chen Han was unwilling to admit defeat, determined to win.
He improved from 10 seconds to 15, each additional second a monumental effort.
But he couldn’t break the 20-second mark, couldn’t surpass Shi Xu.
He knew it was a futile endeavor. Why bother?
He couldn’t win.
His colleagues looked at him with pity. They knew he couldn’t win.
They weren’t discussing victory or defeat, but rather, how long he could last.
His dream shattered, his determination turning into resentment, his admiration for Shi Xu replaced by bitterness.
He started to think—
Why couldn’t Shi Xu show him some mercy?
Why humiliate him in front of everyone?
Shi Xu must have enjoyed seeing him cry and beg for mercy!
