Chapter 12

Chapter 12

1

Pei Chang stared at the pitch-black ceiling. After finishing a cigarette, he immediately kicked the other out.

He sat up straight, crushed the cigarette butt into his palm, and said coldly, "You're too presumptuous."

7008: "..."

So temperamental.

The other remained seated, silently watching him with those eyes.

"Hmph."

Pei Chang snorted coldly, tossed the pillow onto the other's lap, closed his eyes, and lay back down.

The other reached out a hand, but Pei Chang slapped it away sharply, opened his eyes, and said, "Quiet. Don't move."

The silent creature lowered its gaze, long dark hair spilling onto Pei Chang’s chest.

Seeing the other settle, Pei Chang placed his hand on his abdomen and closed his eyes again. But in the next moment, his hand was seized. Before he could frown in irritation, a wet tongue gently licked the burn on his palm.

He froze, lifting his eyes to look at the face veiled by strands of hair.

The other held the back of his hand, bowed its head, and carefully licked the burn on his palm.

A being so strange and threatening rarely showed tenderness—yet from the way it licked, Pei Chang sensed gentleness.

He watched intently as the other moved. Those sharp, clawed hands that had once attacked him no longer felt dangerous.

Now, holding the back of his hand, the long, pointed nails curled harmlessly inward.

Pei Chang couldn’t understand the reason for this change, assuming it was simply a monster, caged and starved too long, finally learning the lessons of loneliness and hunger.

His gaze drifted down to the other’s chained wrists, marred with years of bruising—ghastly, disfigured.

The surgical bed had collapsed, and Pei Chang had no intention of repairing it.

But he also had no intention of setting the other free.

He had originally planned to install several sturdy bars across the narrow window and chain the other to them.

That way, during the day, the other would never see full sunlight—the filtered light would break into scattered fragments.

Not even a bird could fly in.

Countless losses in the past had left Pei Chang with a twisted possessiveness toward what belonged to him.

No one needed to know. No one needed to see. It was better locked away, known only to him.

Just like now.

Pei Chang’s expression was calm—so calm it was unsettling.

His face revealed nothing, and no one could guess the terrifying thoughts swirling within.

These ideas had only brushed his mind fleetingly, like a dragonfly skimming water, on some ordinary afternoon or quiet night.

Yet they were real, carrying genuine intent to be carried out.

Pei Chang’s fingertips curled slightly as he suppressed those dark thoughts deep inside.

He averted his gaze, eyelids fluttering shut as he murmured, "Goodnight, sweetheart."

The world fell silent once more.

The monster slowly lifted its eyes, gazing at Pei Chang’s peaceful sleeping face. The hand holding his loosened and tightened, hesitantly tracing the knuckles of his fingers, as if wanting to intertwine with them.

But in the end, it pulled its hand back.

The night was far more agonizing than the day.

Countless times during these hours, it had struggled to recall memories, terrified of forgetting its past.

But too much time had passed.

So much that, despite effort, it could not stop the memories from fading.

Only one obsession remained carved deep in its heart—becoming its sole reason to live.

Now it had found it, yet pain and sweetness intertwined like vines, piercing its heart with every layer.

It turned to look at the large floor-length mirror, raised a hand, and touched its own face. The hazy moonlight softened every flaw, yet could hardly conceal its monstrous disfigurement.

In the mirror, Pei Chang was flawless—perfect as jade.

It tilted its head, pressing Pei Chang’s injured palm against its cheek.

Its fanged mouth opened and closed.

*Pei Chang*.

*Pei Chang*.

*Pei Chang*.

—

When Pei Chang woke up, he found himself completely curled in the other’s arms.

Warm sunlight streamed through the small window, falling on him. Too lazy to get up, he lit a cigarette.

The other began licking his neck again.

Unlike before, when it seemed determined to bite through his throat, now it carefully retracted its teeth each time it licked.

Its cautious lapping paid special attention to his throat.

Pei Chang’s collar was undone, his hair tousled. Smoking, he looked idle and relaxed—nothing like his usual self.

Occasionally, when Pei Chang was in a good mood, he could be generous.

Today, he was clearly in high spirits. He didn’t remember last night’s dreams, only that he had slept well, so he indulgently allowed the other’s behavior.

As the other boldly licked his chin, he clutched its hair firmly, blew out a plume of smoke, and murmured, "Good girl, that's enough."

The slick tongue slid uselessly across his chin, leaving behind a damp trail.

Pei Chang rarely felt this relaxed.

Even after taking over the Pei Group, the sensation of a noose tightening around his neck never really let up; if anything, it grew more suffocating, an intangible pressure constantly coiling around him.

Yet he couldn’t pinpoint why he felt so on edge and suffocated, like someone tied to a bed who, upon being freed, couldn't remember how to walk.

He reached out for support, only to find walls that would collapse at a push.

So this tension and anxiety morphed into an endless void and an inescapable loneliness.

But now, all those demonic presences that clung tightly to him dissolved in this embrace, turning into a gentle, flowing water that enveloped him warmly.

It made Pei Chang, full of holes yet surrounded by fortress walls, become intoxicated, addicted to the feeling.

He lay without regard for appearances in the other’s arms, smoking like they were alone.

Even though he knew the other was watching him.

It wasn’t the cold, predatory gaze from before, but a deeper, more intense focus.

He suddenly smiled and said, "My good boy, stay right here with me forever."

No one would ever take what he wanted from him again.

His eyes hazy, he watched the smoke he exhaled dissolve into the air like a dancing mist.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a cold hand slid under his shirt, digging into his waist.

He frowned, but noticed the other’s chest rising and falling heavily, their ragged breathing seeming to suppress something about to burst out.

"My good boy, let go," his voice turned cold.

Not only did the other not release him, they tightened their grip, leaving red finger marks on Pei Chang’s waist and stomach.

He likely didn't realize how enticing his words were to a monster long lost to darkness.

Enough to ignite all the accumulated emptiness and numbness into a raging fire.

Pei Chang’s clothes were pushed up, and the hand on his waist moved up to his chest!

The invasive movement made Pei Chang’s eyes turn ice-cold.

He spoke coldly, "Let go!"

The hand released then gripped again, sharp nails grazing lightly Pei Chang’s chest before finally retreating slowly.

Pei Chang sat upright, grabbed the other by the neck, and shoved them to the floor, saying with pure malice, "You need to know your place. You’re a dog, a stray dog!"

He could accept a "stray dog" as a substitute, but he absolutely could not accept, would not tolerate...

Pei Chang closed his eyes, pushing down all the rising emotions within.

The other lay silently on the ground, watching him.

Those eyes without pupils shouldn’t have conveyed any emotion, yet Pei Chang detected hints of sorrow and a twisted, desperate desire in them.

Pei Chang gazed intensely at this face, but whether it was because the face was fully exposed or because he had just recalled another face in his mind, he actually recognized something familiar in it!

Especially those eyes fixed on him—through the jet-black pupils, across time, they transformed into a pair of smiling, affectionate peach blossom eyes.

And those lips, curved at the corners, unusually gentle when they smiled...

Pei Chang’s expression changed, and then crushing rage and boiling malice nearly consumed him!

For that hint of familiarity, for this face, and for himself!

He actually, actually found it familiar!

With a loud crash, Pei Chang kicked a chair into the wall, shattering it.

The October autumn still held a hint of warmth, especially when the sun rose, bringing warmth and refreshing coolness.

But Pei Chang was shivering with cold.

He felt as if he were about to explode, boiling over with intense malice!

Just then, his phone lit up. He looked coldly at it, saw the caller, closed his eyes, and suppressed his violent temper.

—"President Pei, lovely weather today. Fancy a game of golf?"

Zheng Yuqin’s bright, energetic voice rang out.

Hearing this voice, the figure lying on the ground went rigid abruptly, though Pei Chang didn’t notice. He straightened up, tidying his messy clothes.

"No."

—"Surely President Pei isn’t swamped even on his day off? The Pei Group can’t possibly grind to a halt without you, can it?"

The same old cheap provocation.

Pei Chang didn’t understand why the other always used such methods to achieve what seemed to him completely pointless objectives.

"Zheng Yuqin, do you have nothing better to do?"

He fastened the last button, bent down, and picked up his phone.

There was a faint pink mark on his neck, left from who-knows-when.

He tried to cover it with his collar, but it remained faintly visible.

This discovery made Pei Chang’s dark and violent aura surge once more.

But Zheng Yuqin probably never knew how to read Pei Chang’s mood.

—"President Pei, do you have any hobbies?"

Pei Chang paused, took a deep breath, and his reflection in the mirror resumed its cold expression.

"No."

—"Find one. Everyone needs something positive to look forward to in life."

Pei Chang said nothing, just stared at his reflection.

A moment later, the call ended. Pei Chang emotionlessly raised his chin, straightened his tie in the mirror, and walked out without looking back.

This time, he didn’t say, "My good boy, goodbye."

Hearing the lock click outside, the motionless figure slowly stretched a hand into the sunlight—pale skin, strange blood vessels, sharp nails—instantly creating a bizarre sight that could sting the eyes.

He jerked his hand back as if burned.

But within moments, the hand hidden in shadows reached out again. This time, he didn’t retreat but clenched his fist tightly, trying to grasp that ray of sunlight.