Chapter 9

Chapter 9

1

Pei Chang’s face, treated with medicine, was less alarmingly swollen than before, but still very red, with a prominent split at the corner of his mouth.

No longer needing to return to the company, Special Assistant Sun and Assistant Jin were driven away first by the chauffeur.

The chauffeur, assigned to Pei Chang, sat in the driver’s seat, not daring to utter a sound, only occasionally glancing through the rearview mirror at Pei Chang, who was leaning back in the rear seat, eyes closed, resting.

The sky gradually darkened, and streetlights flickered on one by one.

Pedestrians on the road thinned out, replaced by a constant stream of speeding vehicles.

Suddenly, Pei Chang opened his eyes and looked at his constantly vibrating and flashing phone, saying flatly: "Spit it out."

It was rare to hear Pei Chang speak to someone in such a tone, and the chauffeur’s eyes flashed with surprise.

He couldn’t help but wonder if his boss, Mr. Pei, wasn’t as friendless as he seemed.

—"Golden Bay. Coming or not?"

Golden Bay, a high-end entertainment club where the minimum spend for a private room was in the six figures.

Before Pei Chang could even speak, the other person seemed to anticipate his thoughts, chuckling lightly: "Mr. Pei, surely you’re not still under curfew, are you?"

It was a cheap taunt.

But as he looked at the dark night sky outside, Pei Chang suddenly felt a flicker of weariness toward this long-familiar scene.

Perhaps it was loneliness at play.

"Wait for me."

He hung up the phone.

The chauffeur glanced at Pei Chang and silently pressed the accelerator.

Meanwhile, Pei Chang looked at the injuries on his face reflected in the car window, his gaze distant as he lit a cigarette.

—

The opulent, gold-trimmed lobby of Golden Bay alone was enough to deter ordinary people. Those inside were invariably wealthy or powerful, and a single glance revealed the chasm of class.

Aside from business engagements, Pei Chang never frequented such places.

The glitz and glamour seemed alien to him; the hedonism felt like a defilement.

So when he appeared in the private room, everyone inside froze.

Even though this was an alumni gathering where Pei Chang was expected to be present.

"Mr. Pei, you’re too late. We’ve already finished a round of drinks."

Pei Chang glanced at the person who, despite having no particular connection to anyone here, was far more at ease than he was, flicking his cigarette ash expressionlessly.

"So, Mr. Pei, how about a penalty drink?" Zheng Yuqin, wearing glasses, smiled as he raised his glass.

Everyone else remained still, watching Pei Chang in silence.

The pale blue lights swirled like waves, making it difficult to clearly discern the redness and swelling on Pei Chang’s face, though the wound at the corner of his mouth was still visible.

Zheng Yuqin, however, acted as if he didn’t notice, swirling his drink lightly.

The chauffeur had been mistaken about one thing.

They weren’t friends—merely bound by a straightforward transactional relationship.

Pei Chang walked past him and settled into the shadows, his aloof demeanor creating a palpable chill in the atmosphere.

Zheng Yuqin didn’t seem to mind, his eyes still crinkling into a smile.

Yet anyone who first met Zheng Yuqin would likely perceive him as a refined, gentle intellectual, unaware that in private, he specialized in handling illicit dealings for the wealthy.

Pei Chang’s ability to maintain his current position was partly due to Zheng Yuqin’s behind-the-scenes assistance.

They attended the same university but studied different majors: Pei Chang, the distinguished scion of a noble family, and Zheng Yuqin, the thrill-seeking adventurer. Their relationship was neither close nor distant, yet they shared a rapport deeper than with most.

"Pei… *cough*… if we had known Mr. Pei was available, we would have invited you sooner," someone spoke up, breaking the surrounding silence.

Others quickly chimed in with agreements, but though they spoke about Pei Chang, no one actually approached him.

An invisible barrier had formed completely around Pei Chang.

Even in the past, Pei Chang had always been a solitary figure, someone others could only observe from a distance.

He was exceptional and outstanding, yet he had no connection with anyone at the school.

He simply came to class every day and was picked up by his chauffeur.

Many knew his name, but few had ever seen his face.

Even Zheng Yuqin from the neighboring college was closer to them than Pei Chang was.

Many were already drunk, and seeing Pei Chang’s lack of reaction, they gradually relaxed. Soon, they were huddling together in small groups, slurring crude jokes.

Someone boldly suggested, "Mr. Pei, why not pick someone to keep you company?"

"Go on, go serve Mr. Pei. If you serve him well, you’ll be set for life." The speaker was so drunk he could barely keep his eyes open, but he still managed to slur his words while patting a man’s buttocks and pushing him toward Pei Chang with a lewd grin.

Zheng Yuqin watched the scene with keen interest.

Pei Chang lifted his eyelids and shot a dismissive look at the man being pushed toward him.

Seeing Pei Chang’s cold aura, the man grew nervous, but the prospect of making it big was too tempting. He slowly knelt before Pei Chang.

"Mr. Pei, let me feed you a drink."

The man took a sip of alcohol, opened his mouth, and revealed the ice cube he was holding inside.

Pei Chang didn’t speak, only took a sip from his glass while staring at the potted plant ahead.

Emboldened, the man bent down, placed his hands on the floor, and leaned in closer to the space between Pei Chang’s legs.

No matter how high-end the club, once it was associated with "entertainment," it wasn’t exactly wholesome.

The Pei Chang of the past would’ve never set foot in a place like this.

But now?

He no longer had to adhere to a life of strict self-discipline or follow harsh rules.

He had gained his own freedom and could now obtain things he once could never have.

Even the most vulgar and lowly pleasures.

As the man's breath brushed against Pei Chang's lower abdomen, Pei Chang downed the entire glass of liquor in one go.

The liquor was strong, sharp, and burning, like a scorching flame down his throat.

Yet he found it profoundly uninteresting.

Feelings of annoyance, boredom, and impatience surged within him.

At that moment, Pei Chang felt disgust toward everyone in the private room—and even the world itself.

His gaze icy, he kicked the man away and sneered, "Do you think you're worthy?"

The man was stunned, then flushed bright red.

Pei Chang didn’t know why he had come here.

It was a complete waste of time.

He stood up and walked out the door without a backward glance.

The others were slumped together in drunken disarray; the few who were sober didn’t dare stop him.

Zheng Yuqin watched Pei Chang’s retreating figure, tutted, and sighed.

He actually really wanted to be friends with Pei Chang, but it seemed there was no space for anyone in the other’s heart.

Stepping out of the club’s entrance, Pei Chang looked up at the rainy sky, closed his eyes, and let the rain fall on his head.

It turned out that even after obtaining the freedom he had wanted, he still felt the same emptiness.

—

Clutching his drenched suit jacket, Pei Chang walked step by step up to the attic.

His face was flushed with a drunken redness, and rainwater dripped from him, wetting the floor.

Standing at the attic door, Pei Chang leaned back against it, tilted his head up, and gasped softly.

7008 raised its tiny hand, wanting to wipe the water droplets from Pei Chang’s face.

But it was a worthless system, completely unable to touch Pei Chang’s skin.

7008 slumped dejectedly.

Not long after, Pei Chang straightened up against the door, took out his keys, and unlocked the door.

It had been nearly a week since Pei Chang last visited the attic.

And the faint, occasional sounds from inside had grown fainter and fainter.

Pushing the door open, Pei Chang stood swaying slightly in the dim light.

He looked at the shadowy figure sitting with its back to the door and slowly walked inside.

"Good boy," he said hoarsely.

The long-haired figure did not move. Pei Chang’s jacket fell to the floor, and he spoke again, "Good boy."

7008 clenched its tiny fists nervously.

A long time passed before the stone-still shadow slowly turned its head.

7008 breathed a sigh of relief.

Pei Chang’s heart relaxed. He tilted his head back and, for some reason, burst out laughing.

He covered his eyes with one hand, laughing uncontrollably.

The creature, now turned toward him, raised a chain-bound hand and grabbed Pei Chang by the waist, pulling him close.

Stumbling, Pei Chang fell into the creature’s lap. Its enormous body enveloped him completely, yet a warped thrill rose within him.

In this vast world, there was still something that completely belonged to him.

Pei Chang began to laugh again.

He seemed truly drunk—sitting in the arms of a creature that could consume him at any moment, yet he felt a sense of relief that washed over his entire body.

All the shackles related to "freedom" and "hatred" that had constrained him melted away.

He laughed harder and harder, his shoulders trembling.

So be it.

It didn’t matter if he was eaten.

When he finally stopped laughing, Pei Chang lit a cigarette with empty eyes.

The long-haired creature gripped his waist tightly, burying its face in his neck and nuzzling insistently.

Its prominent nose brushed against his chin, its heavy breath washing over his neck, as if it were searching for something on him with desperate urgency.

Clad in black slacks and a white dress shirt, Pei Chang sat motionless in the other’s embrace.

His crisp white shirt was already soaked by the rain, hinting at the skin beneath through the fabric in the dim light. The shirt hem was still neatly tucked into his pants, the slim waistline tapering down to his hips—but an inhuman hand clawed at the fabric at his lower back, wrinkling it.

Tilting his head back, he smoked, watching the white smoke disappear into the dark air.

A damp sensation crept across his neck as the other began licking his Adam’s apple.

The inhuman tongue was long and agile, capable of probing down to his chest.

Pei Chang narrowed his eyes and heaved a sigh.

The base pleasure he hadn’t felt earlier now enveloped his limp body like boiling water.

The other’s single hand gripped half his waist; the vast difference in their sizes made him feel like a doll being manipulated at will.

His entire neck was being licked and sucked; the strong liquor he’d consumed now coursed through him like a drug. The corners of Pei Chang’s eyes reddened. As he smoked, his slightly narrowed eyes glazed over.

Suddenly, the other’s sharp fangs grazed his Adam’s apple, and a jolt of pain pierced his neck.

Pei Chang lowered his gaze and slapped it coldly.

The other paused, then lowered its head and soothed the spot with its wet, hot tongue.

Pei Chang tilted his head back again, staring blankly at the exhaled smoke.

He began to laugh again.

Like a madman consciously descending into depravity.