Chapter 10: Thigh

Chapter 10: The Safe Word

When Xie Yu pointed to the drink, both Shen Ci and the staff member were stunned.

"You're the first guest tonight to order milk," the staff member teased while preparing it. "Did you bring your boyfriend on the cruise just for milk?"

Shen Ci was startled: "No..."

He was Xie Yu's contractual partner, not exactly a boyfriend.

Xie Yu, however, said, "His stomach can't handle alcohol; it makes him sick."

Having worked on the cruise for several years, the staff member had seen all kinds of guests. His eyes swept between Shen Ci and Xie Yu. Noticing Xie Yu's luxurious attire, adorned with high-end brands and a gem-encrusted watch, while Shen Ci was dressed simply, he understood most of the situation and smiled, "Not a boyfriend yet, but who knows?"

Xie Yu chuckled, "He’s shy; go easy on him."

The milk was ready in seconds, no preparation needed. Xie Yu took it and handed it to Shen Ci. Warm steam rose, filled with the aroma of milk. Shen Ci held it through the cup sleeve, feeling warmth spread through his body.

He looked down, murmuring, "...Thank you."

"No problem," Xie Yu glanced towards the river. "My yacht’s here; time to board."

*

Half an hour later, Shen Ci sat in Young Master Xie's private yacht, holding the packed hot milk. The plush fabric sofa beneath him sank under his weight.

Looking out from the yacht's window, he could see another ship gradually moving away, the one they had just left. The ship glowed with neon lights, their garish reflection shimmering on the river. In contrast, his yacht was clean and cozy, its warm lights guiding it smoothly. The distant dock was faintly visible, and they would dock in at most ten minutes.

Shen Ci felt a bit dazed.

He’d left that ship effortlessly, without a cost.

At their first meeting, Xie Yu had introduced a safe word, saying that if Shen Ci couldn’t bear it and uttered this word, everything would stop.

Shen Ci had taken it as a poor joke. He doubted a single word could control Xie Yu, nor did he believe that the arrogant Young Master Xie would care about his feelings. It was a power play, like a cat toying with a mouse—offering cheap hope only to take it back, enjoying the struggle of those beneath them for amusement.

But the towel on a rainy day, the lollipop during hypoglycemia, and the few days of interaction had shown that Xie Yu was far from the rumored tyranny. He hadn’t manipulated him, slowly easing his defenses. So, on that isolated cruise ship, in that smoke-filled private room, he had uttered that word, like a drowning person desperately trying to grasp a lifeline.

In the few seconds when Xie Yu looked at him in surprise and then fell silent, Shen Ci thought his struggle must have looked pitiful and ridiculous.

Like a fish on the chopping block, trying to stop the hand wielding the knife.

But it actually worked.

Xie Yu had brought him to show off to friends, to make a statement. After he said the word, Xie Yu had taken him away without even asking for a reason.

The safe word had actually worked.

The yacht smelled of agarwood and sandalwood, the river gently rocking it, evoking memories of a forest after rain or an ancient temple in the mountains, where people slept in tents by the fire, listening to the patter of autumn rain.

Shen Ci, sinking into the soft sofa, grew drowsy.

This was a somewhat new experience. Around Xie Yu, he’d always been on edge, braced for trouble. Even on the first night sleeping in the hotel bed, it was only a nap, not a deep sleep.

But now, with the abyss no longer bottomless and the game’s stop button in hand, he relaxed.

Shen Ci looked up. Xie Yu sat opposite him. Young Master Xie still sat without any posture, sprawled on the sofa, his long legs crossed, aimlessly scrolling through his phone, his demeanor noble and lazy, like a boneless big cat.

However, while it seemed calm on the surface, Xie Yu's mind was about to explode.

System: "Ahhhhhh, Su Zhu!"

"Su Zhu, what are you doing, Su Zhu!!!!"

"Tonight is a crucial plot point, and you still have so many lines left to say, Oh no!"

"It’s ruined! It’s ruined! It’s completely ruined!!!!"

"If this continues, you're going to fail, You’re doomed!"

Xie Yu’s veins were pulsing on his forehead: "Can you calm down a bit?"

The system was furious, like a melodramatic female lead from old Hong Kong and Taiwan romances: "How can I calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?!"

Xie Yu felt a strange mix of emotions, thinking to himself that he hadn't developed anything with the protagonist yet, but was already exchanging melodramatic lines with an electronic life form. He pressed his forehead: "No, think about it—isn’t this part of my character?"

The system: "Huh? What do you mean, ‘character’?"

Xie Yu patiently explained: "Shen Ci just said the safe word. In these kinds of games, what does the safe word mean?"

The system: "?"

It hesitated: "A boundary that shouldn’t be crossed?"

Xie Yu: "Shen Ci said the safe word, and I am an exceptionally 'professional' person. So, according to 'professional' practices, what should I do?"

The system: "..."

"Immediately stop the game, remove the submissive from the scene, and if they’re still on edge, comfort them."

Xie Yu: "I immediately stopped the game, removed Shen Ci from the scene, and bought him hot milk to comfort him. Isn’t that exactly what a professional would do?"

The system: "...?"

Does this even count as professional conduct?

It felt a bit tangled and didn't argue back immediately, just said: "But I still have to dock your points."

It listed Xie Yu's problems: "You skipped a lot of lines, and while the protagonist felt embarrassed and humiliated, it wasn’t intense enough—it didn’t meet the threshold, and..."

Xie Yu was shocked: "There’s a threshold for this? Isn’t that good enough?"

The system was righteous: "We’re a serious system! We have strict grading criteria!"

Xie Yu: "Alright... what else, go on."

The system: "Your physical contact didn’t even come close to meeting the standard."

The original text had detailed descriptions of physical contact, but tonight Xie Yu only held a wrist—that’s nowhere near enough.

Xie Yu knew he was in the wrong and waved his hand, letting it deduct points as it saw fit. The previous two times had both exceeded sixty, so on average, it wasn't a big problem.

After the argument between Xie Yu and the system, a long horn blared, the ship rocked slightly, the crew tied the ropes, and they docked.

Xie Yu stepped ashore and found his Bentley. He’d been drinking and couldn’t drive, so he called for a driver. When the driver arrived, Xie Yu tossed him the keys and opened the back door.

The original host had a high alcohol tolerance, built from partying with his friends in the entertainment scene. Xie Yu’s alcohol tolerance was average. He’d mixed champagne and red wine and was already a little drunk, half-lying on the cushion with his eyes closed, dozing off.

The front seat was taken by the driver, with the passenger seat empty. Shen Ci hesitated for a moment before getting into the back seat with Xie Yu.

Xie Yu lifted his eyelids, half-drunk, like a lazy big cat. He looked at Shen Ci, thinking about the unfinished plot, and suddenly tapped the system: "System, that physical contact requirement—it can happen anytime tonight, right?"

The system was still upset, speaking in a monotone: "Yes, you were supposed to stay on the boat all night and disembark early tomorrow morning. Anytime is fine."

Xie Yu chuckled softly: "That's no problem."

The back seat of the luxury Bentley was roomy, with Xie Yu and Shen Ci each minding their own business. However, Xie Yu raised his hand, feigning a headache by rubbing his forehead, and sighed lightly.

The driver, hearing the movement from the back seat, quickly asked, "Young Master Xie, are you alright?"

Xie Yu: "Hmm, I'm fine, just a little woozy from the drinks."

Shen Ci, who had been sitting quietly, glanced over at the sound, looked at Xie Yu for a moment, and then quickly looked away.

The driver, eager to be helpful, hurriedly said, "There's a pharmacy ahead. Want me to grab some hangover pills?"

Xie Yu: "No need, I’ll just rest for a while."

The driver: "The back seat reclines. Want me to adjust it for you?"

Before he could finish, Xie Yu plopped right onto the person beside him, resting his head on their thigh and lying down like that.

Shen Ci flinched and tried to shove him off, but Xie Yu wouldn't let him, muttering as he rubbed his forehead, "This wine’s really messing with my head."

He was half-drunk, whining about the headache, his voice oddly gentle. Shen Ci paused, his fingers hovering just above Xie Yu's forehead, and finally pursed his lips and lowered his hand.

Xie Yu, remembering the unspoken lines, half-opened his eyes and complained, "Teaching Assistant Shen, what's the matter? Is this leg off-limits?"

Shen Ci looked down at him without a word.

This line was from the original text, spoken by the original host at a banquet. The novel described Shen Ci’s icy expression, and he didn’t give Young Master Xie a good look, excusing himself to the restroom and pushing him off his leg.

In the novel, Young Master Xie, of course, couldn't swallow this insult. He yanked Shen Ci by the collar and bashed his head against the wall, leaving him dazed. Not content with that, Young Master Xie then choked Shen Ci and kneed him in the stomach, making Shen Ci throw up right there, curling up in pain. He was dragged and tossed onto a chair, and in front of everyone, Young Master Xie started tearing off his clothes.

Xie Yu still remembered the description of this scene, how Shen Ci's hair was pulled, forcing him to lower his head, his neck and back forming a beautiful curve, his smooth, jade-like skin exposed, covered in goosebumps, making one want to pinch and play with it.

Normally, Xie Yu wouldn't have any reaction to such descriptions, but now that he was drunk, resting his head on Shen Ci's thigh, his gaze wandering over Shen Ci's collarbone and neck, he actually found a certain charm in it, feeling a flicker of desire.

After all, Teaching Assistant Shen was truly good-looking, with sharp, cold features, dignified and serene, standing there with skin like priceless porcelain in a museum display.

To have such beauty within reach would undoubtedly be a great pleasure in life.

Xie Yu thought to himself, "What a sin, what a sin," wondering how he could be like the pervert in the original text, lusting after the protagonist. He quickly reined in his thoughts and continued to deliver his lines.

"Teaching Assistant Shen, according to our agreement, not just your leg, but every inch of your skin belongs to me."

According to the plot, Shen Ci should struggle violently, but Xie Yu waited for a while, and there was no movement from the other party.

Xie Yu: "?"

He continued to act, slightly narrowing his eyes as the script required, his expression dangerous: "Teaching Assistant Shen, don't forget, who was it that secured your grandmother's spot..."

In the novel, this line was like a trump card. Every time Xie Yu said it, Shen Ci would comply. This time was no exception. According to the script, Shen Ci would instantly stiffen, then go limp, like a soulless puppet, staring blankly into the distance.

However, before Xie Yu could finish, Shen Ci suddenly sighed.

He closed his thighs, firmly supporting Xie Yu's head with the most fleshy part, then turned his head unnaturally to look out the window, saying flatly, "If you want to lie down, then lie down."

Xie Yu: "Huh?"

This totally caught Xie Yu off guard.

His head was foggy from alcohol, not quite clear, and he thought to himself, "...What the hell? Since when can I just lie down whenever I want?"

He frowned and waited for a while, but Shen Ci, the aloof good student, actually let Young Master Xie use him as a pillow, his long straight legs obediently placed, not moving an inch.

Xie Yu: "..."

To be fair, if Shen Ci had struggled desperately, putting up a fierce resistance, Xie Yu could have fully immersed himself in the role of the bully and finished the act properly. But with Shen Ci letting him lean like this, Xie Yu felt awkward instead. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

The legs he was resting on were long and straight, with just the right amount of muscle, neither too thin nor too thick, making them very comfortable to lie on.

Shen Ci didn't have any good clothes, all worn and frayed, loose and saggy, not doing his legs any justice. But just by imagining, Xie Yu knew how good those legs would look in a suit.

He reined in his wandering thoughts: "Shen Ci, I bought you clothes, why aren't you wearing them?"

He tried very hard to get into the bully role: "Go back and put them on, I want to see."

Shen Ci glanced down at him, saying nothing.

Xie Yu pressed on: "Remember, I can use your legs as a pillow anytime, anywhere."

This was also the original line.

Shen Ci looked at him again, still silent.

Xie Yu: "..."

His head was really pounding now, feeling dizzy and sensing something was off. He ignored Shen Ci and weakly called out to the driver, "Driver, let’s get home fast, I’m exhausted."