Chapter 2: First Blood

Chapter 2: First Blood

Four years ago, in Beijing.

Under the flickering lights of the pub, a heavy scent of alcohol and marijuana permeated the air, fueling the crowd's excitement with each wave of intoxication. Beautiful men and women danced wildly to the pulsating music, their bodies intertwining, as youthful faces flushed with a mix of bliss and oblivion, resembling a scene straight out of a hedonistic paradise.

Hou Yu, drenched in sweat, squeezed his way back through the throng and plopped down into a chair. "Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!"

"Still enjoying clubbing and dancing at your age," Han Yue casually tapped his cigarette ashes. "If Commander Hou were to see you like this, I doubt he'd let you off lightly."

Hou Yu waved dismissively. "That old man's thinking is too rigid! In this day and age, what's the most valuable?"

A group of princelings nearby burst into laughter: "Science and technology are the primary productive forces! Hahaha..."

"Wrong! Life is short, and one should seize the joy in it while one can." Hou Yu waved his hand, adopting an enigmatic tone. "Second Young Master Han, being in the military for so long, you might not be aware that this PUB has recently recruited a batch of fresh, young boys, all high school students, tsk tsk..."

"A high school student?" Someone nearby chuckled. "Aren't college students more in vogue these days?"

"Pei Zhi, you're so outdated. Nowadays, people chase after novelty in everything!" Hou Yu turned his head and waved, immediately drawing the attention of the floor manager, who approached with a smile. "Young Master Hou, how may I assist you?"

"Choose a few of your freshest novices to attend to our Second Young Master Han," Hou Yu winked at Han Yue with an amusing expression. "Our Second Young Master Han has quite the influential background. Let me warn you, don't try to deceive him with lowly sorts! Or else, be prepared for him to tear this place apart!"

"Not at all, not at all!" The floor manager hurriedly bowed and retreated before leading a group of teenagers dressed in school uniforms up to them. The young boys and girls were heavily made up with glittery eyeshadow, their uniforms purposely revealing deep necklines, while the girls' skirts were hiked up high, exposing their snow-white thighs as they swayed their hips.

Pei Zhi couldn't help but chuckle. "Ah, a schoolgirl uniform seduction, I see?"

"Our Boss Pei is well-versed in modern slang, how surprising." Hou Yu turned around and patted Han Yue on the shoulder. "Since today's a welcome party for you, we'll let you take the lead. Go ahead and order first."

The group around them nodded in agreement, allowing Han Yue to go first. Among their circle of elite offspring, Han Yue had the best background, and he himself was also diligent. He had trained in martial arts under a bodyguard from a young age and joined the military right after turning eighteen. After ten years of hard work in the military, he had taken over his father's position even before the latter retired. Now, when people mentioned the second son of the Han family, many elders would give a thumbs up in approval.

Han Yue chuckled. "It's rare for Young Master Hou to treat us, so I won't be polite." As he spoke, he casually pulled over a long-haired, short-skirted girl with a pure image and then pointed at a boy with clear brows and fair skin, saying with a smile, "Light me a cigarette."

The boy was quick-witted and immediately took out a Yunyan cigarette, lighting it and placing it at the corner of his mouth before bending down to offer it to Han Yue. The young girl also swayed her waist as she poured a drink, feeding it to Han Yue with a coquettish pout.

Han Yue accepted everything without refusal, enjoying the warmth and softness in his embrace. Suddenly, he heard Pei Zhi ask, "Han Er, now that the military project in Nujiang is done, will you leave after this trip back home?"

Han Yue swallowed his drink. "No, I'll stay at home for a while. Why do you ask?"

"I just suddenly remembered, if you stay in Beijing for long, won't your beloved one be in deep trouble, having to deal with you every night... Hahaha!"

Han Yue smiled but didn't answer. Hou Yu couldn't resist asking, "What treasure? Why haven't I heard about it?"

"Mind your own business! Why would you know about Second Young Master Han's affairs?"

"I'm just curious! How come I've never heard of Han Yue having a close friend in Beijing?"

Pei Zhi winked. "Not a female companion, but a male one – an engineer from the Metallurgical Research Institute. They've been together for around two years, but he keeps a low profile and doesn't socialize much."

"Hmm, an intellectual! Why did he end up with a rough soldier like Han Yue?"

"That's something you should ask Han Yue himself."

Han Yue, with his eyes closed, was enjoying the girl's massage. Upon hearing this, he opened his eyes, looking innocent. "What's there to ask? He's an outsider, without friends or connections. How could he become an engineer without my help?"

Pei Zhi chuckled. "Keep pretending to be a big shot! Who was it that barged into his house with a gun, forbidding him from leaving? Who handcuffed him for two days and two nights? And who threatened him, saying his whole family would be in trouble if he didn't cooperate?"

Hou Yu was startled. "Second Young Master Han did all that?"

"Indeed! Do you remember what Han Er said? 'If you don't open up, I'll give you a death certificate, and from then on, you'll have no home, no family, and no job – just a dead man without a record!' It was that threat that made things turn out as they did. Han Er's tactics are not something ordinary people can handle."

Han Yue said, "I genuinely like him."

Pei Zhi patted Hou Yu on the shoulder and said, "Did you hear that? See how he's treating men and women with dominance. Learn from him."

Hou Yu chuckled. "That doesn't make sense. Our Second Young Master Han is quite the catch – good looks, skills, wealth, and an impressive background. Why does he always seem reluctant? Could it be that this engineer is some sort of celestial being?"

Pei Zhi laughed. "If you're curious, why don't we ask our Second Young Master Han to invite his beloved for us to meet? What do you think?"

"Hmmph, him? Don't bother," Han Yue waved nonchalantly. "His temper would only spoil the mood. It's better if we don't meet."

Hou Yu, always one to stir up trouble, eagerly urged Han Yue to summon the person, coaxing their friends to join in the commotion. Some who were new to their circle, those who usually didn't speak up, or those without enough clout to follow the crowd, opportunistically joined in the fun. Han Yue, unable to refuse, took out his phone and smiled. "Alright, I'll give him a call and see if he's available."

The phone connected quickly, and Han Yue slightly tilted his head to speak. "Hey, Chu Ci? It's Han Yue. A few friends are at our usual spot drinking. Come over and greet them."

Silence immediately fell upon the group, and the accompanying youngsters dared not make any noise. A few attentive ones even leaned in slightly, attempting to catch snippets of Han Yue's phone conversation.

Hou Yu, seated the closest, heard a moment of silence before two words came through the phone: "I won't come."

Whether it was due to the noise of the nightclub or some psychological effect, Hou Yu found the voice oddly distinctive – exceptionally... indifferent.

There was a delightful yet chilling sensation that instantly dampened one's spirits.

Han Yue's expression remained unchanged, but his voice turned deeper. "Aren't you off work yet?"

"…Yeah, I am."

"Where are you?"

"On my way home."

"Turn back now and head over. You have half an hour. Don't try to be difficult." Han Yue paused before impatiently adding, "Don't drive that junk car of yours. Take the Mercedes."

The other end hung up without a word.

The boy sitting beside Han Yue covered his mouth and chuckled. "Who's that? Quite the temper, huh."

The girl on the other side shot him a fierce glare, causing the boy to promptly shut up.

Hou Yu poured himself a drink and asked, "That's it? Han Er, do you think he'll come?"

"Certainly," Han Yue exhaled a leisurely puff of smoke before flicking the ashes away. "—He's afraid of facing the consequences."

Sure enough, after about fifty minutes, a young man in his twenties, dressed in a lab coat typically worn by chemical workers, appeared at the entrance of the nightclub. Scanning the crowd of revelers, he parted the enthusiastic dancers and made his way slowly towards Han Yue's table.

From the moment he stood at the entrance, Han Yue's eyes were fixed on him. Several others followed Han Yue's gaze and looked over as well.

The young man was vastly different from the others in both attire and demeanor, almost appearing out of place. He seemed to have just finished work, still wearing his unbuttoned lab coat. Underneath, he wore a light blue shirt with fine stripes and a steel-gray suit pants, accentuating his slender and upright figure.

His steady strides gave the impression that his legs were particularly straight and long. Hou Yu stared at him until he reached Han Yue, only then noticing the man's strikingly handsome face. His features were extremely handsome and well-defined, devoid of the coquettish charm often found in those from the nightlife scene. Instead, he conveyed an air of aloofness, composure, refinement, and dignity.

Hou Yu reined in his initial playful intentions, speculating that this might be the scholarly charm associated with intellectuals – a quality that made one want to... simply quiet down, engage in a proper conversation, and get to know him better.

Sitting lazily on the sofa, Han Yue gazed at Chu Ci for a full dozen seconds before asking, "Why didn't you answer my call when I landed?"

Chu Ci replied calmly, "I can't take calls in the laboratory."

"Why not later?"

"I was in a meeting."

Han Yue smiled, playfully hooking his foot around Chu Ci's calf. Despite the smile on his face, his words were anything but lighthearted: "Are you itching for another beating?"

Seeing that the atmosphere was about to become tense, Pei Zhi quickly cleared his throat to mediate: "Han Er, you haven't introduced us yet. Engineer Chu, this is Hou Yu; he's treating us today. Hou Yu, come over here. This is Chu Ci."

Hou Yu extended his hand with a smile: "Nice to meet you."

Chu Ci gave Hou Yu a glance. His eyes were bright but devoid of warmth. Hou Yu's smile faltered slightly before he saw Chu Ci reach out and shook his hand in a nonchalant manner.

Perhaps due to his experimental work, Chu Ci's hands weren't as pale and delicate as his face; they were roughened with calluses, feeling slightly cool to the touch. As Hou Yu sat there observing him, he could see the collar of Chu Ci's shirt peeking out from under his lab coat, revealing a protruding collarbone and a shallow indentation in his neck.

Hou Yu thought to himself that Pei Zhi had indeed hit the nail on the head – it was a genuine uniform allure. Despite his aloof demeanor, wearing the white lab coat made Chu Ci appear restrained and refined, yet ignited a flame in one's lower abdomen that burned straight to the heart!

"Han Yue, I told you to be here half an hour ago, but you dragged your feet for fifty minutes. Does procrastinating give you some sort of thrill?" Han Yue chuckled, pulling Chu Ci to sit beside him and pouring another glass of wine. "Everyone's here today, so have a drink with them and say hello."

Chu Ci pushed away the wine glass and replied indifferently, "I don't drink."

Upon hearing this, the eager young aristocrats standing nearby felt somewhat awkward.

Pei Zhi hurriedly diffused the tension: "Han Yue, if Chu Gong doesn't drink, then let it be. If you get drunk later, won't he have to drive you home? Just let him touch the rim of the glass."

Han Yue chuckled, patting Chu Ci's face. "Did you hear that? Someone is pleading for your sake."

Chu Ci remained silent.

Pei Zhi forced a smile and turned his head away as if he didn't know anything. Before Han Yue joined the military, he was already hot-tempered and easily angered. Later on, he developed a soldier's rogue-like temperament, making him someone no one dared to provoke. He had a few bed partners in the past, who were pampered with fine clothes, jewelry, and good food. However, they all eventually couldn't tolerate Second Young Master Han's tyrannical behavior and fled, weeping and wailing. Only Chu Ci stayed, for he couldn't leave since he was forced to stay from the beginning.

Pei Zhi's words just now might seem harmless now, but they would likely become an excuse for Han Yue to make things difficult for Chu Ci later tonight.

Although Chu Ci never showed any affection towards Han Yue, Han Yue watched him closely. Although it wasn't obvious on the surface, Han Yue was prone to jealousy and anger.

"You came all this way without even touching a drop of alcohol. Who do you think you're showing attitude to? ... You say you can't drink, but you must be lying to a three-year-old." Han Yue laughed, turning Chu Ci's chin forcefully, leaving his nails slightly bruised. "In any case, since you're sitting here, you should give me some face. Even if you can't drink, you'll have to drink it for me!"

Chu Ci frowned and whispered, "Don't make a scene in public."

Han Yue laughed heartily, suddenly downing the entire glass of alcohol in one gulp. Then, he pressed Chu Ci against the back of the sofa and forcefully poured the drink into his mouth! Chu Ci struggled fiercely, but it was no match for Han Yue's strength. In the process, his shirt slipped out of his belt, revealing a small portion of his bare waist.

Even in the dim light of the discotheque, the muscles on his lower back appeared firm and slender, exuding a warm suppleness. The narrow waistline curved into his belt, forming a beautiful line that was neither too bulky nor too thin. It tempted one to place their hand on that curve and slowly slide it down into his pants.

Hou Yu couldn't help but fixate on that exposed waist, aware that many others were also casting lascivious gazes in that direction. If those stares could turn tangible, they might have sliced off pieces of flesh from Chu Ci's waist.

Han Yue held Chu Ci in his embrace, kissing him for a while until the latter was gasping for breath before finally releasing him. He straightened up, wearing a faint, mocking smile.

Chu Ci took two rapid breaths, coughing violently as the alcohol burned his throat. His face was flushed, and one button on his collar had been dislodged, revealing a small patch of his chest beneath his collarbone. His hair was mussed, and his eyes glistened with a hint of red, reminding Han Yue of the pleading and moaning sounds he made in bed.

"Hold that thought for tonight," Han Yue whispered into Chu Ci's ear with a low, menacing laugh.

Chu Ci abruptly pushed him away and started walking out without looking back. However, before he could take two steps, Han Yue vaulted over the sofa, grabbing his arm with a grip like steel. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Home."

"If you dare to leave now, I'll break your legs!"

Chu Ci fiercely wriggled free from Han Yue and strode towards the door. Enraged, Han Yue kicked him down and dragged him forcefully towards the stairs leading to the private rooms.

The dance floor was equipped with soundproofing, and upstairs were private rooms where anything could happen behind closed doors. Chu Ci sensed trouble and struggled fiercely in silence, but he couldn't resist Han Yue's rage as he was dragged upstairs.

Pei Zhi and Hou Yu, along with a few others, quickly intervened, trying to calm Han Yue down. "Han Er, calm down!" "Let go of him! Stop pulling!" "Calm down, let's talk this through!"

Just as Hou Yu helped Chu Ci up and stood between them with Pei Zhi and the others, his phone rang in his pocket.

The club had just switched to a more intense song, and the noise was deafening. It took Hou Yu a moment to realize that his phone was ringing, and to his surprise, the caller ID displayed his home number.

"Hold on, hold on," Hou Yu signaled for Han Yue and the others to be quiet, then shouted into the phone, "Who is it?"

Whatever was said on the other end made Hou Yu's expression shift dramatically. "Are you serious?!"

Pei Zhi couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Hou Yu waved him off with a grim face, then spoke into the phone, "Alright, I got it. I'll be right back. Keep that idiot at the police station for now, and remind him not to say anything stupid! Damn it!"

Hanging up, Hou Yu cursed, "Son of a bitch, my cousin crashed his car while drunk and killed someone!"

Everyone around him sucked in a breath. Pei Zhi asked, "Who did he hit?"

"I don't know, some laborer's kid, I think. That idiot tried to flee the scene, and when the police stopped him, he even dared to tell them to get my dad, the police chief!" Hou Yu sighed in frustration. "Now look, it's blown up, and reporters are already here. How could that kid be so damn foolish?!"

Pei Zhi clapped his hands. "You should consult Han Er about this. A couple of years ago, wasn't it his brother who also drove drunk and...?"

Han Yue interrupted Pei Zhi, "I was in the military back then, and it was all handled by my brother's friends. My advice is to rush to the police station now, silence your cousin before he says anything else. The rest can wait."

After the incident, Hou Yu was in no mood to linger. He hastily bid farewell to the group and hurried to the police station.

Hou Yu was the host of the day, and with his departure, the others found it difficult to continue the festivities. It wasn't long before they dispersed in small groups. The high school students who were there to accompany the drinking were somewhat disappointed, pouting their lips. Fortunately, the members of the wealthy elite, often referred to as the "princelings," were quite generous. When it came time to settle the bill, they all left substantial tips.

Chu Ci gazed persistently in the direction where Hou Yu had departed, seemingly lost in thought. From Han Yue's perspective, his handsome profile appeared tranquil, like a deep, still pond.

"What are you thinking about?"

Chu Ci retracted his gaze and said indifferently, "Nothing."

Han Yue chuckled lowly and asked, "Shall we go home or stay here?"

For an instant, Chu Ci's body seemed to freeze, every muscle tensing up. It took him a while to recover, his expression somewhat awkward, "…Let's go home."