Chapter 1: Pain

Pain.

Jiang Yu gritted his teeth, his forehead pressed into the bedsheet. His fingers gripped the pillow’s edge.

Eyes shut, he dared not make a sound. Even his breathing was subdued. Tears slipped from his eyes, soaking into the sheet.

“Relax.”

Li Xiao’s voice came from behind him, laced with heavy breaths. His hot breath hit Jiang Yu’s nape.

Jiang Yu couldn’t.

Every muscle was taut. His back was as stiff as a board.

The pain was excruciating—worse than he’d imagined.

One thought consumed him: Let this end!

But time stretched, each second dragging unbearably.

If only he could borrow money. If only he had another choice…

****

Three days earlier.

Inside the Lost bar, the lights were dim and the music deafening.

Li Xiao sat in a corner booth, lazily swirling his whiskey.

“Great place, right?” His friend Gu Ran leaned in, voice piercing the music. “The bartender is top-notch.”

Li Xiao didn’t answer. His gaze drifted through the crowd and settled on the figure behind the bar.

A young man, around twenty, about 180 cm tall. He wore a fitted black shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms.

The light overhead highlighted the sharp lines of his profile—a straight nose, a clean jawline.

His movements were fluid. When he shook the shaker, the muscles in his arms tensed slightly, his eyes focused on the container.

Li Xiao watched him for five minutes. The man took three orders without once looking up.

“Interested?” Gu Ran followed his gaze and chuckled. “Damn, you’ve got good taste. That’s the hottest bartender here. But they say he’s tough—lots of people hit on him, but no one’s ever seen him smile.”

Li Xiao took a sip and said nothing.

Ten more minutes passed. The bartender’s phone lit up under the counter. He glanced at it, frowned, exchanged a few words with a coworker, then stepped out from behind the bar and headed toward the back door.

Li Xiao set down his glass.

“I’m going for a smoke.”

The back door opened onto a small alley beside the bar.

Li Xiao pushed it open. The night breeze hit him, carrying the chill of late summer.

He stood by the door, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and placing one between his lips.

Four people were in the alley.

The bartender stood with his back to Li Xiao, facing three men in floral shirts, their arms covered in tattoos.

“Jiang Yu, time to pay up,” the bald leader said, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

“Brother Wang, I just paid twenty thousand a few days ago,” Jiang Yu replied, his voice calm but tight.

“That was for last month.” The bald man blew a smoke ring. “What about this month?”

“I don’t have it right now.”

“You don’t?” The bald man laughed, the sound harsh in the empty alley. “Then shall we go find your sister at school? I heard she’s in her senior year. Must be stressful, right?”

Jiang Yu’s body stiffened.

“Don’t go near her.” His voice dropped. “I really don’t have the money. Give me more time.”

“You have three days.” The bald man flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot. “If we don’t see the money in three days, we’ll pick your sister up from school.”

Jiang Yu said nothing.

The bald man patted his shoulder, not lightly. “Think it over. Your sister’s future is in your hands.”

The three men turned and left, their footsteps fading.

Jiang Yu stood there, head down.

After about half a minute, he wiped a hand across his face and turned to go back inside.

Li Xiao lit his cigarette and stepped forward.

“Need money?”

Jiang Yu looked up.

The light was too dim for Li Xiao to read his expression, but he could feel those eyes sizing him up.

Jiang Yu sidestepped him and continued toward the bar’s back door.

Li Xiao shifted to block his path again.

“I can give it to you.”

“Who are you?” Jiang Yu stopped.

“Your patron.” Li Xiao took a drag and slowly exhaled.

Jiang Yu stared at him for two seconds, then let out a small, mocking laugh.

“Sorry, I’m not for sale.”

He stepped around Li Xiao, pulled the door open, and entered the bar.

Before the door closed, he heard Li Xiao say, “Don’t refuse so quickly. Think about it.”

Li Xiao stood in the alley and finished his cigarette. He crushed the butt and flicked it into the corner trash can before heading back inside.

The music flooded his ears again.

Li Xiao crossed the dance floor and returned to the booth.

“I’m leaving.” He picked up his jacket from the sofa. “I already settled the bill.”

“Hey, it’s still early…” Gu Ran’s voice came from behind.

But Li Xiao was already walking toward the exit.

As he passed the bar, he glanced inside.

Jiang Yu was mixing a drink for a customer.

He had his head down, his profile illuminated by the lights, as if nothing had happened in the alley.

Li Xiao pushed open the front door and stepped out.

The night air was cool.

He got into his sports car in the parking lot and started the engine, but didn’t drive off immediately.

He leaned back in his seat, recalling the look in Jiang Yu’s eyes at the end—wary, weary, and a deep, hidden despair.

Interesting.

Three days.

He would wait.