X
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Join the ServerJiang Yu’s ears burned slightly.
“No. Just asking.”
Gu Ran gave him a meaningful look but didn’t press further, turning back to chat with his friends.
Jiang Yu pocketed the business card.
The days that followed went on as usual.
Only the season had quietly shifted.
When he got off work at night, the breeze grew increasingly cold, carrying the chill of early winter against his face.
Jiang Yu switched to a thicker coat and bought his sister a new sweater as well.
There was still no news from Li Xiao.
Their WeChat conversation had ended ten days ago with a nightscape photo and the caption: “Almost done.”
Jiang Yu hadn’t replied.
He didn’t know what to say.
More than a month had passed.
The rumors gradually died down. A new bartending apprentice had started at the bar, diverting everyone’s attention.
Jiang Yu still stood behind the counter every day, but the exhaustion in his eyes grew heavier.
He no longer delivered food during the day, but he took on more afternoon shifts at the bar and also worked part-time as a bartender at a restaurant.
His income was indeed higher than before, but his working hours were longer too.
Late in the night, the bar closed.
Jiang Yu changed his clothes, said goodbye to his colleagues, and pushed open the front door.
The cold autumn wind rushed in instantly. He pulled his coat collar tighter and walked out with his head down.
As he stepped off the curb, blinding headlights suddenly flared.
A familiar sports car was parked by the road, its engine growling softly, unnaturally loud in the silent early morning.
The driver’s door opened.
Li Xiao stepped out.
He wore a black coat over a dark gray turtleneck, looking travel-worn—stubble on his chin, faint shadows under his eyes.
But his eyes, in the dim streetlight, blazed with intensity.
Jiang Yu froze mid-step.
Li Xiao strode over and, before Jiang Yu could react, pulled him into a tight embrace.
His arms wrapped around Jiang Yu’s waist and back, holding him close.
Li Xiao buried his face in the curve of Jiang Yu’s neck, his warm breath brushing against Jiang Yu’s skin.
“I missed you so much.”
His voice was muffled, hoarse, but clear in Jiang Yu’s ear.
Jiang Yu went completely stiff.
His mind went blank.
He should push him away, demand an explanation…
But his body reacted first—he caught the unfamiliar scent of wind and dust on Li Xiao, and the undeniable exhaustion beneath it.
Li Xiao held him for a long time, so long that Jiang Yu felt his own heartbeat slow from frantic to steady, so long that he could count the rhythm of Li Xiao’s breaths.
“You…”
Jiang Yu finally found his voice, barely above a whisper.
“Let go first.”
“No.”
Li Xiao tightened his arms and rubbed his nose against Jiang Yu’s neck.
“Let me hold you a little longer.”
“Someone might see…”
“Let them see.”
Li Xiao lifted his head but kept his arms around Jiang Yu’s waist. They stood inches apart, their breaths mingling.
Now Jiang Yu could clearly see Li Xiao’s face.
He looked thinner, his features sharper, his eyes bloodshot. But his gaze burned as it fixed on Jiang Yu.
“Get in. I’ll take you home,” Li Xiao said.
“No need, I can take the bus…”
“Get in.”
Li Xiao cut him off.
Jiang Yu pressed his lips together.
“Really, it’s fine…”
“Then I’ll hold you right here and not let go.”
Li Xiao raised an eyebrow, his tone turning playful.
“Unless you don’t mind your colleagues seeing.”
Jiang Yu’s ears grew hot. He glanced back at the bar entrance.
He gritted his teeth.
“…Fine. Let go. I’ll get in.”
Li Xiao smiled, finally releasing him, but then took his wrist and pulled him toward the car.
His palm was warm, his grip unrefusable.
Li Xiao guided him into the passenger seat and closed the door.
Then he walked around to the driver’s side, got in, and started the engine.
The sports car glided onto the empty early-morning streets.
The car was quiet except for the low rumble of the engine.
The heater was on high, and Jiang Yu gradually felt his face flush.
He turned to look out the window. The streetlights zipped past, leaving blurred trails of light on the glass.
“This past month…”
Li Xiao spoke first, his voice low in the enclosed space.
“Did anyone give you trouble?”
“…No.”
“What about the rumors?”
“I heard them enough. I don’t care anymore.”
Jiang Yu paused, then added, “Thank you for having Gu Ran give me his card.”
Li Xiao glanced at him.
“He gave you his card?”
“Yeah. He came by for a drink and gave me his card. Said to call him if I had any trouble.”
“Mm.”
Li Xiao said, “If something comes up and you can’t reach me, you can call him too.”
Jiang Yu didn’t respond.
The car fell silent again.
As they neared Jiang Yu’s apartment complex, Li Xiao suddenly asked, “Did you miss me?”
Jiang Yu’s fingers curled.
“…No.”
“Liar.”
Li Xiao chuckled softly. “Your ears are red.”
Jiang Yu immediately raised a hand to cover his ears, the move so childish it surprised him.
Li Xiao laughed out loud and reached over to ruffle his hair.
“Still so easy to make you blush.”
Jiang Yu turned his head to dodge, but didn’t fully succeed.
The car stopped at the entrance of the complex.
The old iron gate was shut tight, the streetlight dim, the street deserted.
Li Xiao turned off the engine but didn’t unlock the doors.
He turned to look at Jiang Yu.
The interior light was off; only the faint glow from the dashboard illuminated their faces.
“Jiang Yu.”
Li Xiao called his name, his voice soft.
“Yeah?”
“While I was away, did you ever think about… what we really are?”
Jiang Yu’s breath caught.
He stared at the mottled wall beyond the windshield and didn’t speak for a long time.
Had he thought about it?
Of course he had.
On every late-night walk home from work, every time he heard the rumors and felt powerless to defend himself, every late night when he looked at Li Xiao’s meaningless photos—
He had thought about it.
A debtor-creditor relationship?
A sugar daddy arrangement?
Or… something else?
“I don’t know,” Jiang Yu finally said, his voice dry. “I only know I owe you two hundred and fifty thousand. I’ll pay it back.”
Li Xiao was silent for a few seconds.
Then he unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over.
Jiang Yu instinctively shrank back, his back pressing against the door.
Li Xiao stopped a few centimeters from his face, his eyes locked on Jiang Yu’s.
“What if I said…”
Li Xiao spoke slowly, his warm breath brushing Jiang Yu’s cheek.
“That I don’t want the two hundred and fifty thousand anymore?”
Jiang Yu’s pupils abruptly contracted.
He snapped his head up, meeting Li Xiao’s deep gaze.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Li Xiao reached out, his fingertips lightly touching Jiang Yu’s cheek.
“Debt cleared. You’re free.”
Jiang Yu’s heart pounded wildly.
Freedom.
The word was too tempting.
He could stop going to that booth every night, stop worrying about Li Xiao using his sister as leverage, stop living in the shadow of rumors and control.
But…
“What’s the catch?”
Jiang Yu heard his own voice tremble.
“What do you want in return?”
Li Xiao smiled.
In the dim light, that smile was so gentle it made Jiang Yu’s heart race with panic.
“I want you,” Li Xiao said, his fingers sliding from Jiang Yu’s cheek to his chin, tilting it up gently.
“But not with debt forcing you, not with schemes trapping you.”
His thumb brushed over Jiang Yu’s lower lip, the gesture tender.
“I want you to stay by my side willingly.”
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