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Get a table for two, take him home and make a move

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III. En Prise

Luo Binghe was attractive. He was hot. He was panties dropping gorgeous. And Shen Qingqiu hated him.

Which was why his tongue was down Luo Binghe’s throat and his hands on his stupidly buff pecs. Luo Binghe’s giant paws were on his hips, grinding him down onto the handsome youth’s enormous bulge.

When they broke apart to breathe, Luo Binghe gasped against his lips, “Call me, Binghe.”

Shen Qingqiu pushed his ass down firmly into Luo Binghe’s lap to shut him up.

Luo Binghe whined, throwing his head back, baring his throat. “Shen-Laoshi, please. Call my name.”

Biting Luo Binghe’s neck hard enough to draw blood was Shen Qingqiu’s reply.

Luo Binghe thrusted wildly upward with no real aim, bruising Shen Qingqiu’s hips.

Firmly gripping both sides of Luo Binghe’s collar, Shen Qingqiu tore the V-neck shirt in half, exposing Luo Binghe’s pectoral muscles to his eyes. His touch was tentative, at first, and then hungry.

He leaned forward, whispering, “Binghe,” right into the entitled brat’s ear. Luo Binghe gave a full body shudder before pulling Shen Qingqiu’s mouth down to violently plunder inside.

Today was the last day to register for Mr. Cang Qiong University, the campus beauty pageant, and Luo Binghe was a shoo-in for first place.

Well, not this year.

Shen Qingqiu registered Yue Qingyuan weeks ago.

His plan was simple: fuck Luo Binghe silly so the brat forgot all about the pageant and Yue Qingyuan would win.


I. Ply

It was a hot and humid day. He and Shang Qinghua sat in the shade drinking their ice-cold milk teas.

Shang Qinghua’s voice was an annoying wave of nonsense. “Luo Binghe is the hottest man on campus. He’ll win Mr. Cang Qiong U for sure.”

“Who?” Shen Qingqiu glanced in the direction of Shang Qinghua’s gaze.

A young man with legs for miles and a ripped body exited a sports car, parking in the middle of the square. An arrogant rich brat, a fattened pig for the slaughter.

“You don’t know?” Shang Qinghua asked, as if everyone was as into school gossip as he was, “It’s the transfer student. He’s a prodigy with the mind of a genius and the body of a god.”

Shen Qingqiu scoffed, “He’s alright, I suppose.”

Shang Qinghua sighed dramatically, thinking his gross fawning thoughts about that one ice-like kid next door. “But once my Mo Beijun enters, he’ll win Mr. CQU hands down.”

Rolling his eyes, Shen Qingqiu did as he always did and dismissed him, “Yeah, sure, Pedo.”

The golden youth below the balcony was nothing special, but from the right angle, and if you squinted, Shen Qingqiu supposed he might pose a threat to Yue Qingyuan’s claim on the title. But only if you had no taste.

It still wouldn’t do to leave the competition alone, maybe Shen Qingqiu needed to take preventative measures.


IV. Zwischenzug

Originally, Shen Qingqiu’s only goal was to stop Luo Binghe from entering the pageant, but after he fucked the kid, he’d found the beast inescapable.

Luo Binghe ambushed him after class. He handed Shen Qingqiu a milk tea. Clearing his throat, Luo Binghe said, “I had a really great time the other day.”

Shen Qingqiu stared at him silently. Technically, they were done. Registration period was over. Shen Qingqiu didn’t need to play along anymore.

Luo Binghe continued, his hand moving to the back of his head sheepishly, “I never imagined my first time would be in a classroom, but—.”

Shen Qingqiu was mortified. That was the kid’s first time? He thought it sucked because the arrogant hunk only relied on the size of his dick to satisfy his lovers.

Luo Binghe was still speaking, “I was wondering if you had some time, tonight or next week. Some girls were trying to drag me to pageant prep—”

Frowning, Shen Qingqiu interrupted, “But you aren’t competing.”

“They really want me to join I guess.” Luo Binghe had the nerve to look embarrassed.

Figures. Power, money, and looks ensured the rules didn’t apply to Luo Binghe. Looks like Shen Qingqiu’s job wasn’t over until the pageant winner was declared.

Luo Binghe was babbling about something again, “So… Do you want to go to the movies? There’s new thriller in theatres…”

His eyes were wide hopeful things looking at Shen Qingqiu pleadingly.

Shen Qingqiu shrugged, “Why not. You can pick me up at 7pm.”

Luo Binghe’s happy face was stupid.

Shen Qingqiu was around the corner by the time Luo Binghe realized he forgot something, “I don’t know your address!”


After that, Luo Binghe only became more and more audacious.

Just showing up on Saturday and asking Shen Qingqiu out. Sneakily trying to put his arm around Shen Qingqiu’s shoulders.

Today they were having dinner at some fancy restaurant.

“I rented the entire place for the day,” Luo Binghe said proudly.

Luo Binghe held the door open, which meant he couldn’t see Shen Qingqiu’s face, which meant Shen Qingqiu was free to roll his eyes. Because ‘Why?’ It was ridiculous to empty an entire restaurant for Shen Qingqiu. The flagrant display of wealth was unimpressive.

But Shen Qingqiu played along. “Oh, Binghe. You’re the best. You treat me so well,” he simpered prettily, wrapping his arm through Luo Binghe’s and threading their fingers together.

“I’ll do anything for you,” Luo Binghe said, tilting Shen Qingqiu’s chin up with his free hand. “You just need to stay by my side.”

Shen Qingqiu leaned his head against Luo Binghe’s shoulder, lifting his face obediently to be kissed.

At least the food was delicious. It was so good. How was food capable of tasting like that.

Shen Qingqiu made it through all the courses and two servings of dessert and was now on a bowl of ice cream. He was going to stop eating for the next two months after this dinner. Not because he was worried about his figure. That was beneath him. But he didn’t think that he could eat another bite after this bowl. His stomach would surely rebel.

“Shen-Laoshi, I was wondering…”

Luo Binghe got up out of his seat and knelt beside Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Qingqiu was wrong. He was going to be able to eat again, because he was going to barf all over Luo Binghe.

“Will you be my boyfriend?” Luo Binghe brought out a couple ring and held it up with his heart in his eyes.

Unable to stop his disgust from showing on his visage, Shen Qingqiu’s face twitched.

“Ah, Binghe… I…” How was he supposed to gently turn down the spoiled prick. He couldn’t. You can’t ghost a boyfriend the way you did a date. Or could you? Shen Qingqiu had simply never tried it.

“I know you’re busy, Shen-Laoshi. I thought about proposing after I won the pageant, but you said you didn’t like it, so…”

Was Luo Binghe threatening him? No. Surely not. Only Shen Qingqiu would be bored enough to fuck someone just so—. Well. Anyway.

“I—. Sure.”

Shen Qingqiu obediently allowed Luo Binghe to slip the ring on his finger, and then he obediently allowed Luo Binghe to kiss him.

At night he opened his legs obediently to be fucked. It was just as painful as the first time because Luo Binghe was a monster, but secretly—. Shen Qingqiu didn’t mind it rough.


II. Blunder

Luo Binghe was a student in one of the classes Shen Qingqiu TA’d. The kid was a good student, respectful. If Shen Qingqiu was a moron, he’d be utterly fooled, but he’d seen how arrogantly the prick had parked on the first day. Shen Qingqiu knew entitled rich brats like Luo Binghe, respectful on the surface and absolute filth within. It was worse since the kid was buff and handsome, girls swarming around, men envious. Someone who grew up like that, could only turn out to be a self-absorbed, pretentious bastard who believed the world should fawn over them. 

The buffoon’s stare was a lustful thing. Luo Binghe looked at Shen Qingqiu with the eyes a thousand others used when they looked at him, eyes that undressed Shen Qingqiu in the middle of class. He ignored it for the most part, because if he didn’t, he would definitely curl his mouth in disgust and punch the kid in the face.

This little beast was someone who could contend with Yue Qingyuan for Mr. CQU? Over Shen Qingqiu’s hot dead body. Outside of class, Shen Qingqiu was going to turn the charm on.


Phase I for Shen Qingqiu’s plan to make sure Yue Qingyuan won the Mr. CQU competition was getting Luo Binghe to notice Shen Qingqiu.

Shang Qinghua told Shen Qingqiu that every morning, Luo Binghe went for a jog around the university park before exercising at the university gym. Carefully planning his itinerary, Shen Qingqiu made sure to go jogging about thirty minutes after Luo Binghe started. But coming the other direction, so it would appear like he’d been jogging for a long time. That way, suspicion would be deflected, and he would enter Luo Binghe’s attention subconsciously.

Shen Qingqiu was attractive, and he knew it. If he wore form fitting exercise clothes, no one could keep their eyes off of him. So, he did. He jogged with a purpose, not looking left or right, just forward. He didn’t need to look out for Luo Binghe, the licentious brat would look out for him.

After jogging, he would arrive at the university gym before Luo Binghe and lay out a yoga mat. When Luo Binghe arrived in the vicinity, he would be in downward dog. Then run through some other poses while the brat lifted weights or did whatever he did.

It was around the third time that Luo Binghe began to wave at him. Shen Qingqiu ignored it of course, pretending to be too involved in his exercise to pay attention to Luo Binghe.

This meant that it was time to move to Phase II. Find a natural way to establish contact with Luo Binghe.


Shen Qingqiu thought about wearing a form-fitting turtleneck, but decided on a V-neck shirt that exposed a sliver of his midriff instead. It would be best to look nothing like his normal self for maximum awe-effect.

Shang Qinghua said that Luo Binghe was a frequent guest at the Warm Red Club. The rich bastard could be found partying there every single night without fail, instead of studying like a good student. Shen Qingqiu’s hair was pulled up to expose his nape. It seemed to be a good decision from the mesmerized stares of everyone who laid eyes on him.

Hmph. Shen Qingqiu may not go out often, but if he chose to, anyone of these nobodies would clamor to warm his bed. It was going to be a simple thing to charm Luo Binghe.

He spotted the brat by the bar, swarmed with cute young girls.

Several people were holding drinks out to him, so he took one and walked over to Luo Binghe. When he reached him, he pretended to trip and fall into Luo Binghe’s arms. Making sure to spill the drink on his own light-colored shirt, soaking the thing. If you stared hard enough, as he was sure many of the attendees were doing right now, one could see the faint outline of Shen Qingqiu’s nipples. The cold of the drink helped them perk up and stand out.

Luo Binghe was certainly looking, even as he had an armful of Shen Qingqiu. The lustful pig visibly swallowed before looking up at Shen Qingqiu’s face, eyes widening with recognition.

Shen Qingqiu patted his cheeks with the back of his hand as if he was embarrassed enough to blush.

“Oh no! Are you ok?” Shen Qingqiu asked as he dabbed Luo Binghe’s hard defined chest with his handkerchief, pretending to be worried. “I’m so clumsy. I hope your night wasn’t ruined.”

His thumb brushed a nipple. Luo Binghe’s hand firmly grasped his wrist, preventing Shen Qingqiu from playing anymore. He smiled sheepishly down at Shen Qingqiu, “No, I’m perfectly fine. I think you’re the one who’s wet.”

Shen Qingqiu laughed nervously, “I’m always such a klutz. I’m accustomed to spilling things all over myself. I don’t know why I still go to these things.”

He lightly bit his bottom lip, looking up at Luo Binghe through his lashes with water-bright eyes.

“Say,” Luo Binghe began shyly, “Do you remember me? I’m in your class. We jog the same route and go to the gym at the same time?”

Shen Qingqiu pretended to be surprised.

“Oh? I didn’t realize at all. I hardly pay attention to anything else when I have a task to finish.” Lowering his head apologetically, he said, “I’ve offended you, haven’t I? Just like right now, spilling things all over you.”

Luo Binghe shook his head rapidly in denial, “I’m perfectly fine. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Shen Qingqiu bit his lip to appear uncertain and anxious.

“Since we know each other… I would never ask, but… My place is so far, it’s going to be incredibly uncomfortable to travel like this. I’m all wet and sticky…” He glanced up at Luo Binghe with his best damsel impression.

Following Luo Binghe’s Adam’s apple with his eyes as it bobbed up and down while the youth swallowed, Shen Qingqiu had the fleeting thought that it was a pity no one had marked that flawless expanse.

“Do you want to come to my place?” Luo Binghe asked, “It’s barely five minutes from here. I can get you a dry shirt. If you want, we can even wash and dry yours at my place.”

Shen Qingqiu smiled. This was laughably easy.


Luo Binghe’s ‘apartment’ was essentially a mansion. He, of course, lived in the penthouse. The place dripped with lavish splendor. Luo Binghe led him to a couch in the main receiving room, living room, drawing room, Shen Qingqiu did not know. He only knew the room was huge.

Returning a moment later, Luo Binghe handed Shen Qingqiu a large oversize shirt. It was likely Luo Binghe’s own. The fool. Luo Binghe probably didn’t even realize what kind of idiotic fantasy Shen Qingqiu was about to fulfill for him.

“If you could tell me where the bathroom is, I’ll go change?”

Luo Binghe fumbled gawkily, nervous for some reason Shen Qingqiu could not understand.

The bathroom was huge. It was thrice the size of the one room apartment he and Qi—. It was much bigger than some places Shen Qingqiu used to call home.

Shen Qingqiu took off his shirt and pants. For good measure, his underwear too, running them under the water as if he’d cleaned them. Placing them on the counter as Luo Binghe instructed, so that Luo Binghe could take them to be washed.

The oversized shirt Luo Binghe gave him was large enough to cover his ass, but if he bent over, everything would be revealed. It was the perfect size, just short enough to offer a tantalizing preview.

Shen Qingqiu returned to the sight of Luo Binghe drinking tea. The youth caught sight of Shen Qingqiu and sputtered, spilling the rest of the hot drink all over himself. Shen Qingqiu rushed over to ‘help,’ bending down so the front of the shirt hung away from him, allowing the observer a peek at his chest.

Luo Binghe frantically rose, using a pillow to cover the bulge in his pants.

He laughed nervously then said, “Looks like I’m the clumsy one now. I should go get changed.”

Then, he ran away.

Shen Qingqiu picked up the other steaming cup Luo Binghe brought. Da Hong Pao. Of course. How wasteful. Was Shen Qingqiu someone whom Luo Binghe should be bringing this tea out for? He set it down, popping a candied lotus seed in his mouth instead.

Luo Binghe had an extensive, but seemingly untouched movie selection, all of them still in their plastic wrap.

On one of Luo Binghe’s shelves was The Possessed. It was an acceptable horror movie, perfect to initiate a bit of skin-ship.

Luo Binghe returned, “Your clothes are being cleaned.”

Shen Qingqiu turned with fake excitement, eyes wide with hope, “I can’t believe you have this movie! I didn’t get a chance to see it in theatre, could we…?”

Strangely reluctant, Luo Binghe nodded slowly.

Whatever. Shen Qingqiu didn’t need to waste his time with Luo Binghe.

He set the movie back on the shelf, “Actually, maybe a movie will be too long, we could—. Let’s just watch some TV. I’ll go when the laundry is finished.”

“No—. No—.” Luo Binghe cleared his throat, “A movie is fine.”

He set everything up while Shen Qingqiu made himself comfortable on the leather couch. Dimming the lights, Luo Binghe then sat an entire seat away from Shen Qingqiu.

Well. He never.

“Why are you sitting so far away?” Shen Qingqiu asked, charmingly sliding over. “I’ll be cold in just this shirt.”

Luo Binghe jolted, trying to stand up, “I can—.”

Shen Qingqiu slipped his arm through Luo Binghe’s and pulled him back. “Let’s not miss any of the movie.”

Luo Binghe sat rigidly, spine ramrod straight. It took some time before the pampered boy relaxed.

Shen Qingqiu planned to use the first scare to jump into Luo Binghe’s lap. Yet at the first ‘scary’ moment, Luo Binghe whimpered. Shen Qingqiu looked up at Luo Binghe’s face. He looked terrified.

Biting his lip to prevent any sound from escaping, Shen Qingqiu wanted to laugh. The big muscular guy was frightened of a horror movie. He took mercy on the kid and just pressed closer. Luo Binghe was then distracted by the heat of Shen Qingqiu’s body instead of whatever was on the screen.

Slowly, Shen Qingqiu leaned against Luo Binghe as if he was tired, resting his head on Luo Binghe’s shoulder. As the movie went on, Shen Qingqiu would move closer and closer until he was halfway onto Luo Binghe’s lap.

A few minutes after the movie ended, Shen Qingqiu pretended to slowly wake up. Stretching his body into a long sinuous line, he groaned.

Luo Binghe cleared his throat, “I think your clothes are probably ready, if you’d like to change.”

Shen Qingqiu delicately covered his mouth, yawning behind his hand. “Yes, I’d like that. And… Could you call me a cab?”

He changed in the spacious bathroom again. Taking a lighter out, he placed it on the counter.

The clothes smelled nice. Making sure not a hair was out of place, Shen Qingqiu returned. The cab should be here now.

Luo Binghe shuffled his feet, not wanting Shen Qingqiu to leave quite yet. “The taxi’s here, if—."

“Thank you so much,” Shen Qingqiu interrupted, eager to get home.

Luo Binghe smiled, soft and gentle, then walked Shen Qingqiu outside the building. After fidgeting awkwardly with his hands, he turned to Shen Qingqiu.

Could he be any more obvious?

Luo Binghe leant down, intending to give Shen Qingqiu a kiss, but Shen Qingqiu wasn’t a whore.

He planted a hand firmly in the center of Luo Binghe’s chest, pushing him away. “I don’t think it’s decent to…”

Luo Binghe pulled away and blushed bashfully. His strong hand coming up to ruffle the hair on the back of his head. That head of artfully tossed waves looked incredibly soft. It made Shen Qingqiu want to shave it for a rug.

He left, taking a few steps before looking over his shoulder to see Luo Binghe still staring at his back. “Call me some time,” he said while getting in the cab.

Luo Binghe’s face lit up before he realized, “I don’t have your number!”

In the cab, Shen Qingqiu laughed silently, his amusement not even a small smile.


They began to meet quite frequently by ‘accident’ after that, Shen Qingqiu would finally notice Luo Binghe while jogging or at the gym. In a stroke of genius, he convinced Luo Binghe to let him teach him several yoga poses. Pressing his bottom into Luo Binghe’s crotch while telling him to bend forward and drape himself over Shen Qingqiu’s back. Sitting in Luo Binghe’s lap in the name of some non-existent pose. It never failed to get the bastard hard and squirming, trying his best to keep his hardness from touching Shen Qingqiu, failing miserably when Shen Qingqiu made it a point to grind his ass against him. Or, any other body part he could get to come into contact with Luo Binghe. Then ignoring that anything was amiss.

They even did innocent benign things like getting a smoothie after the gym. Studying in the library together. Grabbing lunch. Shen Qingqiu helped Luo Binghe with some of the concepts from the class he was the TA for. He watched Luo Binghe like a hawk.


Matcha was Shen Qingqiu’s second favorite flavor.

“Shen-Laoshi,” Luo Binghe said, pulling Shen Qingqiu’s attention from his phone.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t look up, “Yeah?”

“Some of the girls were telling me to register for Mr. Cang Qiong University. What do you think?”

He looked up at that, “It’s a waste of time.”

Luo Binghe was fiddling again, eyes down on his drink. “I heard your foster brother Yue Qingyuan was going to participate.”

Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes. “He’s him, and you’re you. If you did that, you wouldn’t have time for other things.”

Luo Binghe looked up, meeting Shen Qingqiu’s gaze, “Like what?”

Saccharine smile firmly in place, eyes blinking coquettishly, “Like me.”

Luo Binghe’s shy blush was a gross thing. He wasn’t a virgin. Surely, Shen Qingqiu wasn’t the first beauty the youth had ever spoken to.


V. Desperado

Yue Qingyuan won the pageant and was Mr. Cang Qiong University. His research was published and his creation about to be patented. Yue Qingyuan’s family company was seeing an influx in investments. Shen Qingqiu had no more reason to continue dating Luo Binghe. Today would be the last day he needed to meet with the devilish youth.

He took a deep breath and entered Luo Binghe’s apartment. Luo Binghe was in the kitchen, setting the table for their dinner date. Seeing Shen Qingqiu approach, Luo Binghe smiled brightly.

“Shen-Laoshi, you’re early.”

The hand-made tangyuan Luo Binghe prepared for dessert was mouth-watering, but unfortunately, Shen Qingqiu would not be staying.

He took Luo Binghe’s hands gently in his, setting the utensils down on the table.

Luo Binghe’s head tilted questioningly.

Shen Qingqiu bit his lip in a manner he knew set everyone’s blood rushing, “Binghe… I think we need to break up.” He blinked his beautiful eyes pitifully, lowering his lashes and looking up at Luo Binghe coyly. “I don’t think I have the time to date anymore now that I have to write up my thesis. You should probably focus on your schoolwork too.”

Luo Binghe smiled down at him. Shen Qingqiu’s eyes were drawn to Luo Binghe’s shirt, chest muscles fit to burst through. Any other day and Shen Qingqiu would have stepped closer to lean his head on Luo Binghe’s shoulder and lay his hand on a pec.

Luo Binghe slowly took both Shen Qingqiu’s wrists in one hand and caressed Shen Qingqiu’s cheek with the other.

“Shen-Laoshi, it’s ok. We can just do our work together. I won’t hold you back.”

Shen Qingqiu held back from rolling his eyes, “No, Binghe. I thought about it and I’m certain I can’t do both.”

Luo Binghe tightened his grip on Shen Qingqiu’s wrists, other hand moving to hold the back of Shen Qingqiu’s neck. He looked with his great big sincere eyes into Shen Qingqiu’s own.

“I won’t bother you. I promise.”

Shen Qingqiu sighed, closing his eyes to prevent Luo Binghe from seeing his exasperation. “This is a critical time, Binghe. I really can’t have any distractions, please don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

He stood on his tippy-toes and gave Luo Binghe a chaste kiss, “Good-bye.”

“Shen-Laoshi,” Luo Binghe whispered against his lips. “We’re meant to be together. I love you.”

This kid simply didn’t get it.

“I should go now. I have a lot of schoolwork to catch up on.”

Shen Qingqiu pulled away from Luo Binghe.

Luo Binghe firmly pulled him back against his chest, “But Shen-Laoshi, we love each other!”

Shen Qingqiu scowled. He’d have to spell it out for the brat. “I don’t even like you! I only approached you because—.”

Luo Binghe’s mask came off. His innocent appearance changed to a lecherous one. He was abnormally strong. Holding both Shen Qingqiu’s wrists immobile with one hand, his other hand travelled south to grope Shen Qingqiu’s ass.

“Yeah, I knew what you wanted to do. I didn’t care. I got to fuck you, didn’t I?”

Luo Binghe slipped his hand into Shen Qingqiu’s pants. Thrashing, Shen Qingqiu fought against the hold Luo Binghe had on his wrists, but he was really too weak compared to Luo Binghe’s strength.

He snarled, “You—!”

Luo Binghe smiled his shit-eating grin, “I think I liked our deal. We should continue it.”

“In your dreams! We’re over. Get away from me.” Shen Qingqiu struggled, trying to pull out of Luo Binghe’s grasp, but his attempts were ineffective, Luo Binghe’s grip didn’t loosen in the slightest.

Luo Binghe’s wandering hand firmly gripped one ass-cheek. “Be good now, Shen-Laoshi. You should try to stay in my good graces. My dad has control of your precious Yue Qingyuan’s company, doesn’t he?”

“You—.” A wild finger slipped between his cheeks to caress the place Luo Binghe had entered again and again. Shen Qingqiu wanted nothing more than to slug the arrogant bastard.

“Yes, I know everything. I was driving myself crazy trying to think of a method to capture this promiscuous tutor of mine, but who knew that he would fall into my lap like this.”

The finger roughly entered him, dry and punishing. Shen Qingqiu moaned despite himself, body remembering the sequence of events that would naturally follow, eager for Luo Binghe.

“No,” Shen Qingqiu whispered, resistance faltering. He disgusted himself. All Luo Binghe did was aggressively posture and Shen Qingqiu was ready to spread.

Another finger easily slid inside him, Shen Qingqiu clenching down, acting on instinct.

Luo Binghe chuckled darkly, fully aware of the responses he’d trained into Shen Qingqiu’s body. After basking in his triumph, he moved on to mouthing at Shen Qingqiu’s neck, licking and biting a mark. Each suck felt like a pull on Shen Qingqiu’s dick.

“Be mine, Shen-Laoshi. You look best lying underneath me, warming my bed, sheathing my cock.”

Luo Binghe’s words disgusted him, almost revolting enough to put some energy back into his struggles, but he’d spent months speared underneath the brat and his body had been trained to respond like a whore’s.


The ache of his hips awoke him the next morning. Traces of Luo Binghe’s release all over him and inside him, Shen Qingqiu slowly sat up, hissing at the feel of Luo Binghe leaking out.

Papers landed with a thud on his lap.

“Proof of your Yue Qingyuan’s misdeeds,” Luo Binghe’s voice was cold and careless. He sat by the bedside smoking. The gray clouds curled upwards to blanket the ceiling. Shen Qingqiu had never seen the pretty boy smoke before. If you’d told him yesterday, Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t have been able to imagine it, but seeing it in front of him now, he would have to say it suited Luo Binghe quite well. It transformed his innocent sheep-like appearance into one of danger. 

“Yue Pharmaceuticals has cut quite a few corners in their attempts to reach the market,” Luo Binghe said.

Yue Qingyuan’s stupid father. The man had no morals. How Yue Qingyuan came from such seed was a mystery.

It was the worse time for something like this to come to light. The company was just recovering from great disaster. It wouldn’t be able to survive such a scandal.

“What do you want?”

Luo Binghe put out his cigarette, tapping the lit end of the stick against an ashtray Shen Qingqiu had never seen before in the many, many weeks he’d slept in this room.

“I want things to stay as they are. Shen-Laoshi will remain my dutiful boyfriend who will one day become my dutiful wife. Your Yue Qingyuan will remain my highly talented and incredibly inept brother-in-law. You’ll continue to get on your back when I ask, and spread your legs when I want. I’ll dress you in luxury and give you everything money can buy. I’ll even shelter that Yue Qingyuan of yours until he gets back on his feet.” Luo Binghe stood. His shadowy figure was a handsome mirage, muscled body a firm black picture framed in hazy light.

“And if I say no?”

Luo Binghe turned around and gestured at the papers, “I’ll give this to the government first and then the press after. Let’s see if Yue Pharmaceuticals can survive. After I’ve torn down your Yue Qingyuan and ground him into the dirt, I’ll use my money to buy you.”

“You can’t buy me.”

He reached for Shen Qingqiu. Too sore to move away from his seeking hand, Shen Qingqiu was helpless, and Luo Binghe caught Shen Qingqiu’s chin easily.

Fingers a tight pinch, he slowly raised Shen Qingqiu’s face in a mock-tender gesture, “Money can buy anything. You can come to me of your own free will— or, I whittle you down until you don’t have any. I don’t believe that I can’t have you in this life.”

Luo Binghe’s words made Shen Qingqiu want to stab the demon in the eye and call it a day, but Shen Qingqiu used to be Shen Jiu. He used to live and crawl in the sewers with the other vermin. Yue Qingyuan lifted him from the dirt and called him brother. Shen Qingyuan could not be bought. He knew he was capable of never giving in. Yue Qingyuan, however, deserved to fly in the sky with the other dragons, to reign over everyone else.

But the thing about good people was that it was easy for trash like Shen Qingqiu to be used by demons like Luo Binghe to drag them down.

As long as Shen Qingqiu was alive, Yue Qingyuan would be free.

Shen Qingqiu pulled Luo Binghe’s hand away gently. The devil-child permitted it.

Lowering his gaze demurely, Shen Qingqiu murmured sweetly, “Binghe, you’re being too rough on this future wife of yours.”