Jiang Xiaoshuai drew a long breath, bloodshot eyes fixed on the bedsheet. Only after holding it in for ages did he speak.
“Chi Cheng came to see me yesterday. He said he’s just about out of patience with you. If you still won’t give him an answer, he’s going to make me take your place!”
Wu Suowei’s face changed in an instant; he roared, “Why? What’s this got to do with you?”
“It didn’t—until you forgot Guozi’s interested in me and Chi’s made a career out of hassling him. Chi let me off before only because you were in the way. Now you keep stalling him and I’ve pissed him off again—of course he’ll turn his sights on me!”
Then he smashed a fist against his own forehead, half-hysterical.
“Forget about me. I’ve already been screwed once—my chastity’s worthless. Worst case, somebody plays with me again!”
Wu Suowei’s expression stayed rigid; he said nothing for a long time.
Jiang’s tolerance for alcohol was lousy; a few swallows plus all that bawling drained him. He dozed off, and when he woke Wu was gone. Sitting up, he remembered the blurry words he’d heard just before sleep—Shifu, I’m willing to do anything for you—and his chest tightened painfully.
Wu’s forcing himself to accept the one thing he hates most, all for me, while I’ve been scheming to shove him into it to save my own skin…
There’s a bond carved in bone—teacher and disciple.
He moved to the window and stared out. Is Wu already in Chi Cheng’s bed? The thought made his eyes sting. He’d just reached up to wipe them when a gentle voice sounded behind him.
“Xiaoshuai, don’t be sad—I’ve sorted it out.”
Jiang spun, stunned: Wu Suowei stood there unharmed.
“You… you’re back this fast? He didn’t keep you?”
“Not time to keep me yet,” Wu said.
The five-day deadline Chi had given suddenly clicked in Jiang’s mind.
“Aren’t you curious how I handled it?” Wu’s tone held a grand, self-sacrificing flourish.
Jiang’s eyes rimmed red. “Don’t. I don’t want to know.”
But Wu flashed a grin, eyes bright. “My plan kills two birds with one stone—unravels your knot and cures my heartache. If you don’t hear it, you’ll regret it.”
A bad feeling crawled up Jiang’s spine.
“Today I went to find Guozi,” Wu said, almost showing off. “He’s agreed that once Chi loses patience with me, he’ll get together with me to keep you safe.”
Jiang: “…”
“That way, even if Chi wants revenge on Guozi, it’ll come at me, not you.”
Jiang recalled a news piece about someone whose nerves were crossed—brushing his teeth gave him orgasms. Wu’s nearly at that level, he thought, half-deranged. This was the perfect moment to go ballistic.
“You might as well just hook up with him outright! Why take the scenic route?”
Wu’s eyes gleamed. “Wrong. Chi Cheng’s cunning—you can’t be too careful. If his threat’s half bluff and I cave immediately, I’m walking into his trap. Better keep a card in hand, see whether he really runs out of patience. I can adjust then.”
Easy for you—I’m already out of time! Jiang howled inside. Trouble you stir up, I clean the mess, then you stride back in like the noble hero and claim all the credit? No one’s slicker than you!
