Chapter 11

Chapter 11

1

Pei Chang's fever hadn't broken yet, and after eating, he felt disinclined to move.

He sat on the floor, watching the drops of blood trickle from the corner of the other's mouth, and couldn't help but let out a mocking laugh.

7008: "..."

No idea what was ailing him now.

But 7008 had grown somewhat accustomed to his erratic moods.

It grumbled inwardly like a disgruntled spouse.

After eating, he should get up and walk around to aid digestion. He should remember to take his medicine in half an hour. Even with sunlight, the attic was chilly, and Pei Chang ought to put on another layer to avoid catching another cold.

But it kept all these nagging thoughts to itself.

It wasn't sure how it had ended up in this predicament. Now, 7008 merely saw it as following procedure to complete the task. If it could just endure a little longer, once it moved to the next assignment, it would rise again!

Pei Chang stared at the monster for a moment, then silently stood up.

The monster lifted its head, watching Pei Chang’s retreating figure, seeing the sliver of light from outside vanish as Pei Chang closed the door and left.

Years of solitude and darkness had long since accustomed him, so he no longer felt loss or panic over such things.

But the moment the door closed, despite his gnawing hunger, he felt the blood bag in his hand had lost its sweetness.

The surroundings fell silent, and the light from the small window gradually dimmed.

It was as if Pei Chang’s departure had taken even that meager bit of sunlight with him.

Suddenly, with a creak, the door reopened. He jerked his head toward it, and Pei Chang, standing at the doorway, walked toward him.

A transparent straw was inserted into the punctured blood bag. Pei Chang said casually, "If you dirty the floor, no one's coming up to clean it."

It was a terrifying statement.

It meant no one besides Pei Chang would come up here, implying he would never be discovered, that he would be imprisoned here for life.

But as he looked at Pei Chang, silhouetted against the light, his lifeless heart suddenly pounded.

A sudden surge of desire violently impacted his numb, hollow body.

He raised his hand, grabbed Pei Chang by the waist, and yanked him hard into his embrace.

At this moment, he only regretted that his mutation wasn’t complete enough, that he didn’t have two extra hands to securely lock Pei Chang in place!

The sudden movement made Pei Chang slam into the other’s chest.

That earlier comment, "too thin," hadn’t been an unconscious murmur.

The other’s tall frame was dangerously gaunt. His bony chest and protruding ribs jabbed painfully into Pei Chang.

He frowned in dissatisfaction, but the extreme difference in their sizes made him seem utterly diminutive. Even when he tilted his head back, he could only see that lean jaw.

A scent of blood reached Pei Chang’s nose. He was still feverish, his mind not entirely clear. When that tongue lightly licked his Adam’s apple, he tilted his head back and gasped.

He was held tightly by the waist, a hand larger than his face cupping the back of his head.

"Seems last time’s punishment wasn’t enough…"

Pei Chang narrowed his eyes and sank entirely into the other’s embrace.

The punishment he referred to was when he had locked the other in the attic for a week without food or water.

But his words lacked bite, seeming less intimidating than before.

Perhaps it really was the fever—Pei Chang couldn't muster a strong desire to resist.

The body memories from yesterday hadn’t completely faded. That feeling of having all his strength drained yet being utterly relaxed was habit-forming.

The other didn’t speak.

Of course, Pei Chang never expected a response anyway.

Listening to the heavy breathing growing louder beside his ear, Pei Chang gradually closed his eyes.

He had never been held so tightly before. This sensation of being embraced with such force felt as if the void in his heart was filled too.

Downstairs, the maids heard faint noises from above and looked up in confusion.

But the sounds vanished in an instant, and soon they looked away, returning to their tasks.

—

Three executives had been cut last time.

Their vacant positions were filled by three new faces.

The general manager sitting in the conference room kept wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

Though he didn’t know why Pei Chang hadn't targeted him, this inaction only brought him even more fear and pressure.

It was like watching those around him one by one go to the gallows. He knew his turn would come eventually but had no idea when that day would arrive.

He cautiously glanced at Pei Chang’s face. The other lifted his eyelids slightly and met his gaze. Instantly, he felt his heart clench, a tingling sense of panic washing over him.

That day… at the hospital that day…

Pei Chang must have seen him!

He knew he had gone to Grandpa Pei! He knew he had told Grandpa Pei everything about the company!

Maybe… maybe he even knew he had him followed!

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became!

It was like a bottomless pit, dragging his thoughts deeper and deeper. The intense unease made his entire body tremble!

He didn’t dare look up or move, yet he still felt as if pins and needles were in his back, wishing he could run away.

"Manager Pei, what’s wrong?"

The sudden voice made him yelp in surprise, and the chair beneath him fell over.

Everyone in the conference room turned to look at him, distracted by the noise.

The general manager spaced out for a second before he could clearly see the unfamiliar face in front of him.

It was the newcomer who had replaced the project director.

With a glazed look in his eyes, he said, "N-nothing... I'm good, I'm good."

Maybe even this newcomer was one of Pei Chang's people—no... now almost a third of the entire group were new faces.

They... they were all Pei Chang's eyes!

The Pei Group was already under Pei Chang's control!

Feeling Pei Chang's gaze on him, he was shaking like a leaf, cold sweat pouring down his face.

"If Manager Pei isn't feeling well, he should go back and rest early," Pei Chang said coolly.

At these words, everyone else fell silent.

The general manager trembled badly. Keeping his head down, he said, "N-nothing... I'm good, I'm good."

Pei Chang no longer looked at him but placed the printed documents on the table, saying calmly, "The time-off schedule will be implemented as outlined in the documents. Overtime pay for those on duty will be logged at triple rate."

Everyone present let out a sigh of relief, their expressions easing slightly.

"Yes!"

Pei Chang might not be an approachable superior, but he was certainly a generous one!

After the meeting wrapped up, Special Assistant Sun glanced at the general manager, who could barely stand, and said softly, "Boss Pei, why are you still keeping him around?"

"To see what fools look like when they try to act clever."

Pei Chang raised an eyebrow coldly, his expression ruthless and indifferent.

A flicker of pity for the general manager passed through Special Assistant Sun's eyes, but it vanished quickly.

The upheaval in the Pei Group was inevitable, and the man was merely a pawn for their entertainment.

—

The group welcomed a seven-day holiday, but the rare break did nothing to lessen Pei Chang's busy schedule.

Yet, amid the monotonous daily grind, Pei Chang eventually experienced something slightly different.

Smoking, Pei Chang sat atop the being, his exhaustion melting into blissed-out laziness under its licks.

He leaned his head back, his waist and back fully supported by the being's hands. Watching the smoke from his fingertips drift into the air, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Cough..."

The fever from that day had left Pei Chang ill for quite some time, nearly developing into pneumonia.

He had been pushed too hard before, and even his youthful body couldn't quite withstand it.

Pei Chang coughed until his cheeks flushed red, ash flicked off the cigarette in his hand.

"Mmm..." He let out a breathy moan, his brow furrowed.

The buttons on his chest were undone by a tongue, a tingling wetness spreading to his chest and abdomen.

He held the cigarette between his lips, grabbed the being's hair, and pulled it away.

A long tongue hung out, connected by silvery strings to his chest.

He glanced down, blew out a puff of smoke, and said, "You've made me dirty."

The bitter smoke curled like a weird haze, obscuring Pei Chang's face.

His gravelly voice carried a smoky, turned-on tone.

As the smoke gradually cleared, Pei Chang saw the being's Adam's apple bob.

He smiled and crooked his finger lightly.

The being immediately bent down, its breathing heavy as it came in close.

But Pei Chang leaned back, pulling away.

Propping himself up with one hand, he held the cigarette between his lips, his bedroom eyes as he crooked his finger again. The being's Adam's apple bobbed, and it lowered itself toward him once more.

But Pei Chang blew out a puff of smoke, laughing as he watched the being shy away from the smoke.

At this moment, Pei Chang was utterly wicked—playful, mischievous, wanton, and depraved.

The thick smoke was getting to him as well.

Squinting slightly, he raised his foot and pressed it against the being's chest. The ankle encased in black socks displayed a startlingly sharp, elegant line. But the next second, his ankle was grabbed, and he was dragged forward.

"Mmm..."

Pei Chang lay on the ground, letting out a soft moan.

Heavy breaths brushed against Pei Chang's face as the being crouched down, its hand sliding from his dress pants leg up his calf, following the contour of his ankle bone.

Pei Chang's leg was already lifted high, nearly resting on the being's shoulder.

Pei Chang never knew he was this flexible!

Frowning, he was about to voice his displeasure when a kneading touch drew a choked-off groan from him.

The tingling ache almost made him melt completely.

The leg of his dress pants had slid to his knee, revealing the garter strap strapped to his calf.

The being held his leg, staring him down while extending its long tongue to lick his calf.

The warm, tingling sensation felt good—so good that Pei Chang went limp all over!

Not only did he not know he was so flexible, but he also didn’t know his calves were an erogenous zone!

Lying on the ground, Pei Chang took one last drag of his cigarette and cursed.

"Goddammit!"