Chapter 25: Drunkenness

Chapter 25: Drunkenness

The next three days were uneventful.

Xie Yu settled into Happiness Community, seemingly forgotten by both Shen Ci and Xie Yuanhai. No one disturbed him, and life was calm. However, Xie Yu knew that during this period, the two corporations had already clashed several times.

With Xie Yuanshan's sudden demise, the ownership of the company's shares was in question. Xie Yuanhai was swamped with the situation, while Shen Ci, leveraging Luo Shao's influence, had managed to poach many of Xie Corporation's old clients.

On the surface, Jiangcheng seemed stagnant, but beneath it, the waters were turbulent and unpredictable. Xie Yu guessed that the reason Shen Ci hadn't come to trouble him was because he was too preoccupied with Xie Yuanhai to spare any time.

He enjoyed the leisure, treating it like a vacation: he went grocery shopping every morning, strolled in the park watching the elderly play cards and fish, took a nap at noon, played games and watched TV in the afternoon. His routine was more regular than that of an elderly person.

He completely failed to notice that a new tenant had moved into the long-vacant house next door.

Happiness Community was a welfare housing project from the last century, with narrow building gaps and mediocre soundproofing. From the balcony next door, it was easy to detect the activities here.

Over the three days, Shen Ci saw a completely different side of Xie Yu.

Although he had spent over six months with Xie Yu, back then Xie Yu was the pampered young master of the Xie family, staying in hotels, driving luxury cars, wearing branded watches, with dedicated drivers and doctors. He was the center of attention, free from any worries. Although Shen Ci could glimpse a hint of gentleness in his personality, it was like viewing flowers through a fog, not clearly discernible.

Back then, Shen Ci never knew that Xie Yu could be like this.

Every day at exactly 11 o'clock, the stove next door would be lit, and Xie Yu, wearing a bear apron, would be wielding a spatula in front of the stove.

The first time Shen Ci saw this, he was very worried that the young master, who had never done any household chores, might not be able to handle the fire or the pot and could burn himself. However, Xie Yu's movements were smooth and effortless, from heating the oil to chopping meat, all done with ease, clearly a master at it.

Shen Ci had also cooked frequently as a child, using the rural earthen stove. Back then, he wasn't even as tall as the stove, standing on tiptoe to add firewood, and was quite skilled.

But after silently comparing for a while, he felt that he wasn't as good as Xie Yu.

Xie Yu seemed to treat cooking as an art. He hummed songs, and the dishes never repeated over the three days, with each meal featuring substantial dishes like steamed fish and roasted duck, showing no sign of sloppiness.

Every mealtime, the aroma of the food wafted through the window, the scent of scallions, ginger, garlic, and the sweet fragrance of roasted meat filling the entire building with a homely atmosphere.

Sometimes, when he bought too much meat and couldn't finish it alone, Xie Yu would go downstairs to feed the cats. In the evening when the sunlight was less harsh, he would mix red and white meat with offal, chop it up, put it on a small plate, place it beside the bench downstairs, and then take a nap on the bench.

Happiness Community was an old resettlement community, home to over a dozen stray cats. Every time Xie Yu came down, they would scamper over. Initially wary of Xie Yu, after being fed for two days, they would sleep against Xie Yu's pants legs after eating their fill.

The cats in the community were all local breeds, mostly big orange tabbies, fluffy and chubby. They lounged contentedly, slowly grooming themselves, while Xie Yu lazily sprawled on the bench, bonelessly stroking the cats. Shen Ci couldn't resist and secretly took a photo through the window.

In the photo, the setting sun bathed everything in warm tones—the cats, the bench, even the dilapidated walls of the old community. Everything was gentle, warm like the soft belly of an orange tabby, and the young man on the bench looked so relaxed and comfortable, making one feel that hugging him would be like inhaling the scent of sunshine.

When Xie Yu fed the cats, Shen Ci had just finished his day's work. He would watch from the window for half an hour as Xie Yu lounged on the bench, his chest filled with a certain emotion, feeling peaceful and serene.

Since their parting five years ago, Shen Ci often had the illusion during restless nights that Xie Yu would still reach out and pull him into his arms, his body heat passing through the thin fabric, scalding and intense.

Shen Ci had always slept alone, but during those six months, Xie Yu had forced him to get used to sleeping together. After they parted, his mind tried to restrain, but his body remembered. Every midnight, his body still longed for that embrace, though over time, this feeling had faded.

Now, this feeling returned with a vengeance. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed against each other, wanting to embrace the whole person and inhale the scent of sunshine.

But at the same time, he was a bit confused.

Was Xie Yu really like this?

There were so many rumors about the young master of the Xie family in Jiangcheng, saying he was rough, violent, quick-tempered, and unrestrained. But never had there been a rumor that Xie Yu was a good cook and liked to feed cats downstairs.

How could there be such a person in the world? The closer you got, the more you liked him.

The evaluations from outsiders could be fabricated, but the way one behaves when alone cannot be faked. The so-called rumors of the young master being violent, gloomy, crazy, and perverted were false, while his gentle, smiling, and good-tempered nature was true. And if Xie Yu really showed violent behavior, it could only be because...

He was sick; he had bipolar disorder.

Shen Ci remembered that long thesis, his fists clenching unconsciously:

"The causes of bipolar disorder are complex, with diverse manifestations. During episodes, patients act nothing like their usual selves. Treatment options are limited and difficult to cure, only able to alleviate symptoms."

*

Xie Yu had no idea about the complexities in his neighbor’s mind, let alone that he’d been diagnosed with a severe mental illness. He’d been healthy and happy for three days, until the date marked on the calendar came.

That day, he woke up early and changed into a pure black suit.

The original owner had a flashy sense of style, preferring high-end custom-made clothes with intricate patterns and bright colors. Xie Yu, however, was used to casual wear, favoring jackets and sweatpants. This suit was something he’d dug out from the back of his closet after searching through it.

The system was anxious, unsure what the host was planning. It watched as Xie Yu opened his backpack and placed three bottles of wine inside, its mind filled with questions: "What exactly are you trying to do? Are you planning to make a bomb or something?"

Xie Yu answered simply, "To drink."

These three bottles of wine were bought by Xie Yu two days prior. He’d grabbed the most expensive bottles on the supermarket shelf, not bothering to check the price or alcohol content, and paid directly before leaving.

The system warned, "...Xie Yu, seriously, you can’t take these on the subway."

Xie Yu responded, "We’ll take a taxi."

With that, he took out his phone and tapped a few times. The system flew over to take a look and was stunned: "Wait... Qiongshan Cemetery?"

—While other male characters hung out at fancy tea houses, luxury hotels, and exclusive clubs, their male character visited psychiatric hospitals, resettlement housing, and remote cemeteries.

The system was confused: "...?"

Xie Yu grabbed his bag and headed out, casually mentioning, "Remember that scene where the original owner got drunk by himself and called Shen Ci to the hospital, tormenting him?"

"Seems like there was such a thing?"

"I wondered about that at the time. The original owner loved social gatherings, always surrounded by friends, never acting alone. Plus, given his status, he never lacked company. Why would he drink alone?" Xie Yu sighed slightly. "I guess it was his mother’s death anniversary."

The system, an electronic life form, had Xie Yu as its first host. It didn’t understand the complexities of human emotions. After a brief pause, it asked in confusion, "Are you going to pay your respects?"

Xie Yu said, "I’ve benefited from her kindness, lived in her house, and she was very much like my own mother. It’s only right that I pay a visit."

Qiongshan Cemetery was located in the remote outskirts of Jiangcheng, about a 40-minute drive from where they were, not far from Xu Qingshan’s psychiatric hospital, situated on the front and back of the same mountain.

Although psychiatric hospitals are usually built in remote areas, Xu Qingshan had chosen this location back then partly to keep an eye on his sister.

That day, a light rain fell, and the air carried a chill. Xie Yu, wearing just the suit, didn’t feel cold.

It wasn’t a traditional day for honoring ancestors, so there were few visitors at the cemetery. Xie Yu bought a bouquet of pure white daisies at the entrance and found the original owner’s mother’s grave under a pine tree on the back hill.

Someone had already left a bouquet of daisies in front of the grave, along with traces of burnt paper, suggesting that Xu Qingshan had already paid his respects.

Xie Yu wiped away the dust in front of the grave. It was a modest single-person burial plot. Xie Yuanshan and his wife had a strained relationship during their lifetime, often clashing, so they were not buried together.

The tombstone bore the owner’s photo and name. The original owner’s mother was named Xu Qingping. In the black-and-white photo, she looked gentle, with a serene smile. Xie Yu took one look and gasped.

He reached out, his finger lingering over the photo, a faintly bitter smile on his face.

They really did look alike.

Two completely different worlds, yet so many similarities.

Xie Yu cleared the dust and sat down. He pulled out a bottle of wine from his bag, poured half of it into the soil in front of the grave, recited a few common blessings for the deceased, and then leaned against the pine tree, pouring himself a drink.

The system: "...Are you really going to drink all that?"

All three bottles contained strong liquor.

Xie Yu: "I won't be able to come here many more times."

The woman in the photo, smiling serenely, would never know that the child she treasured was no longer here, replaced by a system-carrying alien visitor. Nor would she know that the story was nearing its end, and even this visitor wouldn't stay much longer.

By then, there would be no one left in the world named Xie Yu, and apart from Xu Qingshan, no one would come to this grave to lay white flowers.

Xie Yu wiped the water droplets off the photo, staring intently at the gentle, beautiful face, and said with a wry smile, "If she knew what the original host had done, she would probably be very sad."

A kind mother, yet her child went down such a dark path, ending up disgraced, miserable, and utterly insignificant.

The system: "Host..."

When you have something on your mind, it's easy to lose control while drinking. The system watched him drink one cup after another but didn't dare to stop him. By the time the rain had nearly soaked his clothes and hair, Xie Yu staggered to his feet, using the pine tree for support, and started packing his bag to leave, already quite drunk.

The system was nervous: "How are we going to get back... Watch your step!"

The cemetery was in a remote area, and there was no way to call a taxi. The nearest bus stop was about seven or eight kilometers away, and in Xie Yu's current state, he might not make it halfway.

Xie Yu: "I'll walk to the mental hospital and stay there for the night."

After all, according to the story, he was supposed to stay there for the night anyway.

The system connected to the navigation and mapped out the route on the screen: "Alright, we are three kilometers away from Qingshan Mental Hospital, with an estimated walking time of 46 minutes. I've planned the route for you... Host! Watch your step!"

The cemetery was built on a hillside, with steps everywhere.

Xie Yu steadied himself by gripping the roadside railing, rubbing his temples, his head pounding. He was indeed drunk.

The wine tasted mild at first, but its aftereffects were strong. While sitting, he didn't feel it, but now that he was standing, the world seemed to spin around him, and he couldn't tell which way was which.

In fact, Xie Yu had estimated his alcohol tolerance. Five years ago, this amount of alcohol wouldn't have been a problem, but during his five years abroad, Xie Yu hardly attended any gatherings. If he did, it was just cooking a couple of dishes at home to entertain friends and drinking a couple of beers to cut the greasiness. It had been a long time since he had drunk any hard liquor.

The system's electronic heart was in its throat. With every step Xie Yu took down the stairs, it thudded. Fortunately, although Xie Yu was as drunk as a cat, swaying and staggering, his balance was still decent, and he always managed to steady himself at the last moment.

Finally reaching the cemetery gate, the system was on the verge of a heart attack. It tremblingly suggested, "Host, maybe you shouldn't walk anymore. I'll call Xu Qingshan to pick you up. I'll call him, I..."

Halfway through the sentence, it abruptly stopped. The system's non-existent pupils contracted, and its electronic heart trembled violently.

At the cemetery gate, there was someone.

To be precise, a young man with an umbrella.

After the rain, the cemetery was deserted, but under the archway, there was a Bentley with double headlights parked. A man stood in front of the car, wearing a long black coat and a high-neck sweater. He had clearly been standing there for a while, as the edges of his coat were wet. He was holding an umbrella, looking in their direction from afar.

The system's non-existent cerebral cortex was about to explode.

"Host, Shen Ci, it's Shen Ci! What is he doing here?!"

Xie Yu, with a headache from the noise, struggled to focus his amber eyes on the approaching figure. He showed a slightly puzzled expression, as if he didn't understand what the system was screaming about.

Shen Ci's gaze swept over Xie Yu's slightly damp clothes, and he said coldly, "If I hadn't come, how did you plan to get back?"

On such a cold day, with your clothes soaked, were you going to walk three kilometers to find Xu Qingshan?

He pressed the car door open, and seeing Xie Yu still standing there motionless, he slightly curled his lips, whether in mockery or self-mockery, and just lowered his eyes: "What, fallen to such a state, and still don't want to ride in my..."

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden weight settled on his shoulder, the warmth seeping through the fabric. Shen Ci’s fingers jerked in surprise as he turned to look behind him.

Young Master Xie had wrapped his arms around him.

He was utterly drunk, apparently mistaking Shen Ci for a sturdy railing, leaning heavily on him.

"..."

Young Master Xie was a grown man, tall and well-built with defined chest and abdominal muscles, and his weight was not light.

Shen Ci, caught off guard, staggered slightly under the pressure. His usual cold demeanor melted away, replaced by confusion and bewilderment. He instinctively reached out to wrap his arms around Young Master Xie's waist to prevent him from slipping, his voice hoarse as he asked, "What are you doing?"

Young Master Xie didn’t respond. His mind was foggy, and he was freezing. Suddenly finding something warm and familiar to cling to, he nuzzled his face against it, rubbing against the warm skin.

Shen Ci: "!!!"

Young Master Xie was slightly taller, and the way he nuzzled resembled a large cat leaning into its owner. Shen Ci hesitated for a moment before reaching up to touch him.

His hand felt cold dampness.

The chill after the rain in Jiangcheng was biting, the moisture clinging to the skin like ice.

Shen Ci opened the car door and with great difficulty, managed to maneuver Young Master Xie inside. In his drunken state, Young Master Xie was as limp as a cat, slumping into the seat. Shen Ci, now completely flustered, struggled to fasten Young Master Xie's seatbelt, turned the heater to its highest setting, and pulled out a fluffy towel from the storage compartment, draping it over Young Master Xie's head without a word.

Young Master Xie lifted his eyelids to look at him, his expression completely dazed.

Shen Ci sighed silently, resignedly wrapped the towel around Young Master Xie’s hair. His long fingers sank into the damp strands as he gently began to dry it.

As he worked, his thoughts drifted.

Five years ago, Young Master Xie had done the same for him.

It had also been a chilly, rainy day. Shen Ci had hurried into Young Master Xie's car, two minutes late. At the time, he had braced himself for a scolding, but Young Master Xie had simply placed a fluffy towel on his head. Shen Ci still vaguely remembered the look on Young Master Xie's face—a faint, helpless smile, as if complaining, "How did you manage to get yourself into such a state?"

Shen Ci snapped back to the present, focusing on the task at hand. But as he did, his eyes inadvertently met Young Master Xie's. Though heavily intoxicated, Young Master Xie wasn’t completely unconscious. His hazel eyes were half-closed, as if he was enjoying the sensation.

...Even more like a purring cat now.

The "cat" lay back in the seat, motionless, letting Shen Ci do as he pleased—whether it was arranging his hair, touching his ears, or anything else Shen Ci might want to adjust.

Shen Ci's fingers paused for a moment, his gaze shifting away from the droplets tracing Young Master Xie’s collarbone, before he resumed drying the hair.

Once the hair was taken care of, the clothes were the next problem. There were no spare clothes in the car suitable for Young Master Xie. Shen Ci managed to peel off Young Master Xie's suit jacket, then frowned at the undershirt. The shirt, soaked through, clung tightly to Young Master Xie's body, making it difficult to remove. And Young Master Xie wasn’t cooperating—in his drunken state, Xie Yu’s language processing system was on par with a three-year-old’s.

Shen Ci sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time that day. He stripped Young Master Xie’s clothes off like peeling garlic, then wrapped him in a clean towel.

To be fair, the body beneath the towel was striking. The curves of his chest, abdomen, and back were smooth and well-defined, striking a perfect balance between strength and leanness—neither overly intimidating nor too thin to appear frail.

But Shen Ci had no mind to appreciate it now. Young Master Xie had spent the entire afternoon in the cemetery, enduring the cold wind and rain without changing. All Shen Ci could think about was the risk of Young Master Xie catching a cold.

Shen Ci pressed the clutch and started the engine, and the Bentley smoothly carved a graceful arc as it climbed the winding mountain road.

Five years ago, he hadn’t known how to drive, but now he handled the car with steady precision, keeping the speed just within the limit.

At one point, Young Master Xie briefly emerged from his drunken haze. His vision blurred, and he mistook the driver for some kind passerby. With great effort, he mumbled, "Take me... take me to..."

Shen Ci pulled over to the side of the road, leaning in to listen, only to hear Young Master Xie say, "...Take me to the psychiatric hospital."

Shen Ci looked at him coolly for a long while before finally letting out a laugh. "No need to see me off."

He stepped on the accelerator, and the Bentley raced off. In less than half an hour, they arrived back at the hotel.

Shen Ci stopped at the hotel entrance and helped Xie Yu out of the car. Xie Yu was as limp as a koala clinging to a tree, using Shen Ci as a crutch. Shen Ci was overwhelmed, but when the hotel manager saw them and offered to help, Shen Ci politely declined.

"Thank you," Shen Ci said courteously, "No need to bother. I can manage to get him upstairs."

His tone was polite, and his attire elegant, though slightly disheveled from being weighed down by Xie Yu. His hair was messy, a button on his shirt had come undone, and his glasses were askew on his nose, leaving him looking quite disheveled.

The manager, confused, asked again, "Are you sure you don't need any help?"

Shen Ci shook his head. "I’m fine."

He helped Xie Yu into the elevator and up to the top floor. By the time he had Xie Yu settled on the bed, Shen Ci was soaked with sweat. After quickly cleaning Xie Yu up, Shen Ci went to the bathroom to freshen up. When he came out in his loungewear, Xie Yu was already asleep.

Asleep, Xie Yu seemed even more harmless. Half of his face was pressed into the pillow, and the blanket created a soft curve against his cheek.

Shen Ci sat down by the bed, slightly frowning. Xie Yu was currently drunk, but when he woke up the next day, he would surely ask why they were at the hotel. Shen Ci thought for a moment, unable to come up with a suitable explanation, and felt a bit agitated. Just as he was about to call his secretary to send some hangover medicine, Xie Yu suddenly shifted closer and grabbed his hand.

"..."

For a moment, Shen Ci even felt as if they had gone back five years.

This was purely Xie Yu's subconscious action, driven by his body's instinct. Something familiar was nearby, so he reached out, grabbed it, and pulled it into his embrace.

Xie Yu was drunk, but his strength was not small. Shen Ci lost his balance and fell sideways onto the bed. His neatly arranged loungewear was mussed up again, and Xie Yu, like an animal finding a familiar spot, held Shen Ci tightly without moving.

The hug was too tight and uncomfortable. Shen Ci instinctively tried to push him away, but Xie Yu, half-asleep, opened his eyes like a drunken cat and mumbled, "Don’t move… just let me hold you…"

With that, he tilted his head and was about to fall asleep again.

Shen Ci gazed at him for a long moment before suddenly reaching out to hold his forehead, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Xie Yu, who am I?"

Xie Yu, still groggy, didn’t respond. He frowned slightly, showing slight annoyance at being disturbed, and turned his head to sleep again.

But Shen Ci held on. He looked directly into Xie Yu's eyes. "Who are you holding? Who do you want to hold?"

After five years abroad, with Xie Yu's playboy personality, it wasn’t unlikely he had someone else. Five years ago, Xie Yu had left without a second thought, and upon returning, he acted as if they were strangers. Now, this situation was entirely Shen Ci's own doing, his own willingness to fall back into this. But if Xie Yu was holding him while thinking of someone else, Shen Ci wouldn’t lower himself to that point.

Xie Yu looked at him in confusion, struggling to process the meaning. After Shen Ci pressed him several times, his foggy mind finally seemed to remember something, and he murmured, "You... are Mr. Porcelain."

Shen Ci abruptly let go.

...Mr. Porcelain?

Of course, he remembered that word. It was the safe word they had set on the first day they met. Back then, Shen Ci had thought it was a humiliating joke, but he hadn't expected it to be the beginning of his downfall.

Xie Yu still remembered.

The coldness in Shen Ci's expression softened significantly, replaced by a dazed confusion. His stiff body relaxed, allowing Xie Yu to pull him closer, holding him like a pillow.

It was an intimate position, the heat of the embrace almost burning. Xie Yu's handsome nose was right in front of him. Shen Ci stared at it for a long time before suddenly closing his eyes and leaning in.

He lightly touched Xie Yu's lips, stealing a kiss with a faint hint of pine.

*

When Xie Yu woke up the next day, his head was splitting.

Back in the day, he had been a formidable drinker, able to down bottles of liquor without issue. But as his high school days faded into the past, Xie Yu's tolerance for alcohol, much like his rebellious streak, had disappeared, leaving him in the pitiful state of being knocked out after just one bottle.

His forehead throbbed, his temples stung, and the back of his head pounded with pain. Every inch of his head hurt, and in a moment of disorientation, he tumbled off the bed, landing in a half-kneeling position on the carpet.

The carpet was plush and soft. Xie Yu sat down against the bed, his fingers sinking into the luxurious fibers.

...Carpet?

His foggy mind finally cleared a bit, and he began to recall the events before he blacked out:

He should have been at Qiongshan Cemetery paying respects to Su Zhu’s mother. Later, he had a few drinks. The wine had a delayed effect—it didn’t feel strong at first, but after standing up and walking around for a bit, he completely blacked out.

And now?

He looked around. A posh hotel, a penthouse suite, a massive floor-to-ceiling window, and a fan-shaped bathtub. Outside, the sunlight was perfect, and the sky stretched endlessly in a vivid blue.

It was the very same hotel suite he had started in.

If it weren’t for the date glaring on his phone, Xie Yu would have thought he had passed out at the cemetery and reset back to the beginning of the plot.

The system’s voice echoed, faint and eerie: "Su Zhu, you’re finally awake?"

Xie Yu: "How the hell did I get here?"

The system continued in the same eerie tone: "Yeah, how did you get here?"

"Who dragged you back? What happened last night? And what did you do to the person who dragged you back? Do you even remember anything?"

Its words dripped with sarcasm and mockery. It was clearly dissatisfied with Xie Yu’s blackout and memory loss, leaving it to face Shen Ci alone.

Xie Yu didn’t have the energy to argue. He rubbed his temples, feeling utterly drained: "Then what good are you? My head’s about to split open... Don’t you have that pain-numbing system or whatever? Hurry up and give me some relief."

His brain felt like it was about to explode.

The system shook its head: "I can only block pain related to the plot, like finger-breaking. Your current state is out of my hands."

Xie Yu: "...Then what good are you?"

Hangover aside, Xie Yu really didn’t have the energy to think too much. He struggled to sit up, his face pale, sweat beads trickling down his jaw, and his back drenched in sweat.

Even the system dropped its sarcastic tone: "Su Zhu, are you hurting that bad?"

"Obviously." Xie Yu took a deep breath, his vision blurring. He tried to distract himself by bantering with the system: "System, are you sure the plot-related pain won’t mess up?"

Although the current plot had gone a bit off the rails—Shen Ci’s actions were not entirely consistent with the original story, to say the least—Xie Yu and the system had repeatedly confirmed that their plot alignment was at 65%. It was a bunch of small deviations, but no major ones. In theory, the ending wouldn’t be drastically altered. The system had assured him that the current situation was temporary and not a big deal. Eventually, things would return to the right track.

Returning to the right track meant there would still be scenes like finger-breaking. The pain of breaking fingers was not something ordinary pain could compare to. If the system failed at that point, Xie Yu would lose it.

The system was clearly unhappy with his doubts: "I’m a professional system. You can’t question my expertise... I can let you try it out."

A fluorescent blue screen flickered, and the nerves in his left hand seemed to be suddenly removed.

The system said coolly: "Try bending it. If you feel even a hint of pain, I’ll admit defeat."

"Will it go back after bending?"

"After bending, I’ll fix it for you. It’s free."

When in pain, people often do things to distract themselves, like biting their lips or pinching themselves during torture. Although it only makes the body hurt more, it does have a certain placebo effect.

Xie Yu was drenched in cold sweat. He gripped his finger, trying to focus his energy on that spot. The sensation under his fingertip was strange, like a piece of moldable clay—soft but lacking elasticity. It left a dent with every press, completely unlike the texture of human skin. He tentatively bent it outward, and the bone made a crisp cracking sound. Then the joint dislocated, and a finger hung limply.

It really didn’t hurt, not even a hundredth of the pain in his forehead.

However, before the system could fix the finger, the door was suddenly yanked open with force. The metal hinges groaned under the strain. Xie Yu, pale-faced, looked up to see Shen Ci standing at the doorway, his expression dark and grim. His deep, tea-colored eyes were fixed on Xie Yu, filled with an unspoken sorrow.