“Extra: Encounter – Part 2”

"Extra: Encounter - Part 2"

Many years later, Chu Ci recalled those two days spent shackled to the chair, and a mingled sense of humiliation and frustration would involuntarily surface in his heart.

Han Yue didn't stop after just one attempt; instead, he relentlessly teased Chu Ci. At times, he'd force him to climax with his hands, at others, he'd fondle Chu Ci's body playfully, and if nothing else, he'd use words to provoke him, delighting in the sight of Chu Ci's face turning red with anger and embarrassment.

Chu Ci gritted his teeth through the first day, his emotions raging. The intense fluctuations led to gastric irritation, and he even vomited the two bites of food he had managed to swallow that night.

But his determined resistance was ineffective against Han Yue, who was far more stubborn. No matter how much Chu Ci begged, screamed, raged, or clenched his teeth in frustration, Han Yue remained steadfast with his words, "Promise me, and I'll release you. Otherwise, I'll stay here with you until you give in."

That night, Chu Ci could only sleep on the chair, finding it extremely uncomfortable. Han Yue was unmoved, bringing over a chair to sit beside him and doze off.

Sometime during the night, Chu Ci vaguely felt himself being moved, as if someone had picked him up, creating a sensation of weightlessness. It was a brief moment, and soon he slipped back into a deep sleep.

Unbeknownst to Chu Ci, Han Yue had unlocked the handcuffs, carried him to the bed, and then nestled close, closing his eyes contentedly.

When dawn had yet to break on the second day, Han Yue woke up first, carrying Chu Ci back to the chair, and re-fastening the handcuffs as they were the previous night.

Chu Ci later believed he had been shackled to the chair for two full days, but that wasn't entirely true. On the chair, he couldn't possibly have slept through the entire night, for the backrest was too hard and uncomfortable, unlike the comfort of a bed.

Han Yue was pleased that Chu Ci hadn't discovered his secret from that night.

In fact, Chu Ci not only hadn't discovered it, but he was also furious. He was a natural at savoring the beautiful aspects of life, with delicate emotions and a sensitive soul, believing in the kindness and camaraderie of humanity. Once someone treated him maliciously and cruelly, he would be deeply hurt.

He had a strong sense of right and wrong, believing that there should be no bullies in the world, no authoritarianism or privileged classes, that one who takes a life should pay with their own, and that after harming others, one should sincerely apologize and seek forgiveness.

However, the Han family shattered his normal understanding of society, leaving him in a state of panic and despair.

He couldn't fathom how, despite all his years of effort, just as he was about to overcome his hardships and see the light at the end of the tunnel, he was suddenly pushed back into the abyss by the Han family with such ease.

Looking at Han Yue's domineering demeanor, Chu Ci felt a chill run down his spine.

When hatred took root in someone like Chu Ci, it became even more extreme and obsessive. The desire for revenge roared within his soul, louder than ever before in his mind.

Never before had he had such a clear and intense urge for vengeance, not when he first learned of his teacher and brother's death, nor when he found out that Han Qiang had escaped legal punishment. Not even when he first laid eyes on Han Yue.

Each straw, one by one, piled up until they crushed the simplicity of Chu Ci's heart.

He knew that avenging himself against Han Qiang was impossible on his own, let alone seeking justice from the corrupt judicial officials. The gap between their social classes was too vast, like heaven and earth, making any form of contact nearly unattainable.

The only way to come face to face with Han Qiang was through Han Yue.

Actually, at that time, Chu Ci didn't have a clear thought of taking Han Yue's life. He just vaguely had the notion of revenge. Although he was despairing towards the law, it wasn't possible for him to suddenly have the urge to kill his enemy with his own hands.

He merely stumbled upon a path in the darkness, a path that Han Qiang's biological younger brother had forcefully placed before him, leaving him no choice but to walk it.

The following day after Chu Ci was handcuffed to the chair, he developed a slight fever.

It wasn't due to physical harm, but rather because he hadn't eaten much the day before and his emotions were highly agitated, resulting in great mental exhaustion.

Han Yue was very attentive, preparing food for him and serving tea, but he didn't think to check Chu Ci's temperature. He assumed that Chu Ci's lack of energy was simply from being tired from being handcuffed in the same position for a whole day.

He couldn't resist teasing Chu Ci like he did the previous day, but seeing that the other party remained unresponsive, he could only reluctantly stop.

That night, Han Yue received a call from Pei Zhi, asking why he had skipped an important social event.

Han Yue described his actions over the past two days without any embarrassment, and Pei Zhi was shocked after listening: "Do you think you're a gangster breaking into someone's house? You've kept him handcuffed for two days?! ... Damn, I don't care about your mess, couldn't you just lock him up at home and come out for a bit?"

Han Yue chuckled and said, "How can I leave him alone at home? I need to keep an eye on him all the time to feel at ease."

"You bloody well could have tried to win him over properly if you really did fall for him at first sight! Why resort to such foolishness that defies reason?"

"Hell, I'm not one for sentimental crap!" Han Yue took a deep breath and continued, "The moment I laid eyes on him, I was so smitten that I forgot my own name. How could I possibly wait a year or half a year before making a move?"

Chu Ci closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, his eyelashes fluttering at Han Yue's words.

After hanging up the call, Han Yue smiled and lowered his head to kiss Chu Ci's eyelids, asking, "It's been two days now. Have you thought it through?"

"..." Chu Ci turned his head away in silence.

"I have very little patience, darling. You're so delicate; I doubt you could handle much hardship. It'd be best not to provoke me," Han Yue paused, observing Chu Ci's expression, then chuckled softly. "Just joking, just joking. I was messing with you. Damn, how could I bear to let you suffer? I like you so much."

Their proximity was such that Han Yue's lips almost brushed against Chu Ci's face as he spoke. Chu Ci strained his neck to avoid the intimacy, his voice trembling slightly. "You...".

Han Yue caught a snippet of what he said but couldn't make it out clearly. "What?"

"...Are you serious?"

Though faint, those words were no less than a beacon of hope to Han Yue. He hurriedly cleared his throat and spoke earnestly, "As serious as it gets! I've never liked anyone this much before. You're the first, damn it!"

Chu Ci's gaze slowly shifted to Han Yue's face, as if he was suppressing intense emotions, examining him meticulously.

Han Yue, who had never cared about his appearance, suddenly wished he were more handsome for the first time. If only this treasure could fall in love with him at first sight, that would be perfect.

"I... I agree," Chu Ci whispered, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. "Untie me quickly."

Before he could say it again, Han Yue pounced on him in delight and kissed him fiercely, hurriedly unlocking the handcuffs.

Before Chu Ci could react, he was abruptly pulled into a fiery embrace. Han Yue passionately kissed his hair, trailing down from his earlobe to his neck, then forcefully pushed him into the chair, rubbing his head against Chu Ci's neck. This intimate and agitated action made Chu Ci frown deeply, trying to tilt his head back as much as possible. Suddenly, he felt something cold brush against his waist, causing him to shudder.

It was the handgun Han Yue had casually stuffed into his pocket.

Like being electrocuted, Chu Ci abruptly pushed Han Yue away with an unexpectedly strong force, making Han Yue stumble. He stood up and dashed out, but Han Yue's joy was burning fiercely, so how could he let him escape? He immediately reached out to grab him.

In terms of strength, Chu Ci was no match for Han Yue, but he couldn't withstand his desperate struggle while frantically trying to retreat. Though he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a word, his terrified expression was obvious even to someone as insensitive as Han Yue. "Calm down, relax! What's going on? What happened?"

Chu Ci remained silent, shivering as he shook his head and pointed.

Han Yue followed his finger to look at himself and saw the exposed barrel of the gun, not finding anything unusual since he was accustomed to it. It took a moment for him to realize, "You mean this?"

He brandished the gun in front of Chu Ci, laughing heartily at the sight of his even more terrified expression before fiercely tossing it aside.

"Don't be afraid, I didn't mean to scare you, really not! After leaving the military commission yesterday morning, I came straight to find you, so I didn't have time to change my clothes. Come on, don't be scared, the safety's always on…."

Han Yue held Chu Ci tightly in his embrace, repeatedly comforting him with what he believed to be the gentlest and harmless voice possible. Unbeknownst to him, no matter how much he tried to soften his demeanor, he could never alter the violent image he had etched in Chu Ci's mind.

In the end, a long time later, Han Yue would only symbolize violence, privilege, savagery, and irrationality in Chu Ci's heart – an odious emblem closely tied to that very pistol. If Han Yue knew this, he would surely be filled with regret.

But time could not be reversed, and even if Han Yue was willing to pay the ultimate price, they could never go back to the day they first met.

Carrying Chu Ci over his shoulder, Han Yue kicked open the bedroom door and threw him onto the large double bed, immediately pouncing on top of him.

He felt incredibly fortunate; had he not gone to that restaurant that day, had the crab served been significantly smaller, had he not seized the opportunity to decisively confront the person… perhaps they would have passed each other by in the sea of people, or at the very least, he wouldn't have been able to obtain this person so swiftly.

Han Yue was ecstatic. The exhilarating joy of having his wish fulfilled burned within him, leaving him parched with desire. The fruit of his patience for so many days tasted sweet, causing his lower body to ache as his desire swelled. Veins soon began to creep into the corners of his eyes, revealing a terrifying crimson hue.

Ripping apart Chu Ci's clothes in a flurry, he wrapped his arms around his body, kissing from the slender neck all the way down to the dip of his collarbone, leaving behind vivid red marks. Like savoring a rare delicacy, he devoured each bite with relish, wishing to grind it into pieces and forever possess it within his own body, never revealing the slightest bit to share with others.

This is mine, Han Yue thought, his excitement mounting.

It's mine alone, solely mine.

Chu Ci clenched his teeth, shivering uncontrollably, desperately holding back any sound. It wasn't until Han Yue kissed his face that he realized Chu Ci's cheeks were soaked with tears, the droplets continuously sliding down to his delicate neck.

Han Yue brushed his lips against Chu Ci's face, muttering in a hazy tone, "…Crying like a child…"

He lifted Chu Ci's upper body, cradling him tightly in his embrace as if trying to soothe him with all his might.

However, Chu Ci was still trembling. Whenever Han Yue started moving, he couldn't help but curl up, resembling a vulnerable little creature that had been ruthlessly hurt.

Han Yue held him close, whispering Chu Ci's name while using the calloused fingertips of his gun-toughened hands to wipe away the tears at the corners of his eyes.

There was a time when he had desperately desired Chu Ci, that primal possessiveness akin to a male seeking mating, only requiring permission. Yet, he then yearned for Chu Ci's willing consent, not just a reluctant acquiescence born from violence and fear, but a more active, more cooperative, mutual love.

His desires grew increasingly greedy, wanting Chu Ci to accept him, to like him, to treat him tenderly, to spend a lifetime together. He wanted everything from Chu Ci and was willing to give all he had, just like true partners who held nothing back from each other.

But later, he realized that Chu Ci would never give him anything. No matter how proactive or forceful he was, there was no response.

All he had gained, what he thought was acceptance and permission, was merely Chu Ci's reluctant surrender under duress. He believed that by making amends, he could earn Chu Ci's affection, only to discover soon enough that even if he gave everything, he could never hope for a fraction of Chu Ci's warmth in return.

They could not spend their lives together as lovers. Han Yue realized that everything he had offered was not what Chu Ci needed.

It was only after being deeply and utterly hurt by Chu Ci that Han Yue finally gained the sole opportunity to hide him away when everyone else sought to tear Chu Ci apart, to possess him and protect him simultaneously.

That was the first time Han Yue transitioned from being an aggressor to a protector, even though Chu Ci did not want such protection. Desperately, Han Yue clung to this last chance, even if it meant opposing his own mother and family.

"I forgot my own surname the moment I laid eyes on him."

Only much later did Han Yue recall this statement he had once made to Pei Zhi, which eventually proved to be prophetically true.