Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The bodyguard, dispatched to check the generator room, was knocked unconscious by a swift knife-hand strike the moment he exited. Chen Zui caught the falling man and dragged him to a nearby pillar. The most efficient move, of course, would have been to simply snap his neck.

Chen Zui, however, exercised considerable restraint.

He strode boldly into the villa, water still dripping from his clothes, resembling a rain-soaked butcher. The occupants inside had already pulled out their phones for light; their four beams provided just enough illumination to prevent the living room from being completely dark.

Someone noticed the figure approaching from the entrance: "Back so soon?" The generator room was quite a distance away.

Chen Zui offered no reply, stepping into the illuminated area. Finally, someone sensed that something was amiss.

"Who are you?"

The question prompted immediate reactions from the three bodyguards: one instantly moved to Li Jingtang’s side, another supported Yuan Man and guided her away, while the third directly attacked Chen Zui.

They were, he had to admit, quite well-trained.

Unfortunately, they were up against Chen Zui, who was top-tier even among mercenaries. He kicked the charging bodyguard, sending him flying with a scream—a blow that likely fractured at least two ribs.

The sheer power displayed by Chen Zui made the other two bodyguards’ faces pale with tension. As the saying goes, amateurs watch the spectacle, while experts discern the skill; they understood they were not in the same league as this man.

The bodyguard holding Yuan Man yelled, "Liangzi! Get the boss to safety!"

After shouting, he released Yuan Man and, despite his apprehension, moved to intercept Chen Zui out of professional duty.

Liangzi didn’t hesitate, grabbing Li Jingtang to make a run for it. But Li Jingtang’s gaze was fixed on Chen Zui’s face. It was him. How could this be?

Clearly, the men he had sent had failed.

And now, the enemy had come for him.

Alone. Single-handedly.

To Li Jingtang, this was an outright insult. Hot-headed, he shoved aside the bodyguard protecting him, snatched an ashtray from the coffee table, and hurled it at Chen Zui.

A fight?

Li Jingtang had never shied away from one.

Chen Zui cast a mocking glance at the charging Li Jingtang, his large hand clamping around a bodyguard’s neck, crushing his windpipe with a sickening crunch. He then swung the bodyguard towards Li Jingtang.

Just as Li Jingtang’s ashtray was about to smash into the bodyguard’s head—a blow that would undoubtedly cause a severe head injury—Li Jingtang’s pupils constricted. He frantically diverted the ashtray, missing his target and nearly losing his own balance.

Chen Zui was mildly pleased with this reaction. At least he possessed some conscience.

He tossed the bodyguard aside like refuse, then seized Li Jingtang, who had just regained his footing. Again, he locked onto his throat, hoisting the 180-cm tall Li Jingtang off the ground.

Li Jingtang’s face turned crimson as he flailed his arms and legs, attempting to strike Chen Zui.

It was both pathetic and comical.

Chen Zui stated calmly, "You seemed eager to see me, so here I am."

He made it sound incredibly thoughtful.

Ao Tian was confused: [He’s revealed himself. How do we gain favorability points?]

Chen Zui cast a cold glance at the bodyguard poised to pounce: "If you don’t want your boss harmed, stay put."

Outside, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, intermittently illuminating the villa as bright as day. Chen Zui’s rain-drenched face was calm yet radiated a chilling murderous intent, paralyzing the bodyguards with fear.

Chen Zui slightly loosened his grip on Li Jingtang’s neck, and the latter immediately gasped for air greedily, though his eyes still glared defiantly at Chen Zui.

Chen Zui tightened his hold again, purely for amusement.

Li Jingtang remained defiant, pounding on Chen Zui’s arm, but nearing suffocation, he had little strength left. Eventually, his frantic blows turned into a desperate grip on Chen Zui’s arm, more akin to a plea for mercy.

Only then did Chen Zui fully release him. Amidst violent coughs, Li Jingtang was hoisted over Chen Zui’s shoulder, his coughs transforming into a startled shriek.

"Fuck!"

"Put me down!"

Li Jingtang’s hoarse voice seethed with humiliation worse than before. But before his swinging fist could land, his ass caught a hard slap, stunning both Li Jingtang and the bodyguards.

Aside from being the esteemed CEO Li, he was a grown man—tall and sturdy. Being spanked like a child was the ultimate humiliation.

"I’ll kill you!"

Li Jingtang gritted his teeth.

Chen Zui delivered another slap to his ass, making Li Jingtang’s brow furrow in pain.

Chen Zui: "If you don’t behave, I’ll pull your pants down and spank you bare-assed."

He chuckled. "Want to test if I’m serious?"

Li Jingtang instinctively raised his hand but was stopped by a last shred of rationality. With so many people watching, if this guy actually followed through, he’d rather die.

The man gritted his back teeth, vowing to settle this score later.

Chen Zui carried the now-compliant Li Jingtang toward the exit, the bodyguards instinctively following.

Chen Zui: "Tell them not to follow, or I’ll strip you naked and spank you right here."

Li Jingtang was on the verge of exploding with rage, his already volatile temper pushed to the limit. His entire body was flushed red and trembling slightly from overwhelming fury.

"Stay back!"

He would definitely kill Chen Zui! Definitely!

At their boss’s command, the bodyguards halted, watching helplessly as the menacing figure carried their boss out of the villa like a bandit, disappearing into the rainy night.

As soon as Chen Zui tossed Li Jingtang into the passenger seat, the latter snarled and lunged at him.

Like a dog.

This was exactly what Chen Zui wanted. He preferred having a justifiable reason for his actions. The man swung his arm, pushing Li Jingtang back, then slid into the car with a long stride.

Li Jingtang had completely lost control, sinking his teeth into Chen Zui’s hand. His sharp teeth immediately broke the skin, drawing blood. His eyes defiantly locked onto Chen Zui’s, jaw clamping down harder as if tearing off a chunk of flesh would satisfy his rage.

Chen Zui merely frowned slightly, using his other hand to force Li Jingtang’s jaw open and free his bleeding hand. He then roughly flipped Li Jingtang over and, amidst Li Jingtang’s curses, yanked down his pants.

A flash of lightning illuminated the scene—Chen Zui saw the pale, plump buttocks quivering from struggle, the full cheeks jiggling. He raised his arm and landed a slap, the sound as loud as thunder. Almost instantly, a handprint bloomed on the buttock, swelling up—it looked excruciatingly painful.

"Shit!"

"Chen Zui!"

"I'll kill you!"

Every time Li Jingtang cursed, Chen Zui slapped him, and soon his entire buttocks were red and swollen, looking utterly pathetic.

Li Jingtang's curses grew weaker and weaker until his voice went hoarse and he fell silent. The pain and humiliation of being beaten made his head spin, and combined with the earlier lack of oxygen, his head lolled and he passed out.

Chen Zui turned the unconscious man over. Had he broken him already?

—

—

The car drove forward through the rain. Chen Zui had one hand on the steering wheel and the other lightly squeezing the swollen buttocks he had spanked. Surprisingly, after being beaten, the skin and flesh were warm, perfect for warming his hands, especially on this rainy and snowy day.

Ao Tian: [I have a reasonable suspicion he passed out from sheer anger. But who told him to kidnap Yuan Man and try to force himself on her?]

Ao Tian: [Our Dark Transmigration Bureau despises that kind of behavior the most, which is why we insist that the target must consent willingly.]

Ao Tian: [As the saying goes, fight violence with violence, poison with poison, and submission with submission!]

He declared loudly.

Chen Zui turned on the car's heater.

—

"I'm going to kill you…"

The unconscious man muttered, his eyelids fluttering before he opened his eyes, filled with drowsiness and anger.

Li Jingtang stared at the wardrobe in front of him for a long time.

He sat up abruptly—this wasn't his room!

As he sat up, he jumped again. Damn, his butt hurt! He remembered—Chen Zui, that bastard, had spanked him twenty-plus times, making his butt swell up!

The memory made him angry again.

He got out of bed, and only then did he realize one of his ankles was chained to the bedpost.

Li Jingtang knelt back down by the bedpost. The post was iron, welded to the iron chain. Even if he had the strength to lift the bed, it would be useless unless he could break the chain.

Li Jingtang stared at the chain as thick as his arm…

He cursed under his breath.

Fuming, he went to the door, which was, unsurprisingly, locked. He began pounding on it loudly.

"Chen Zui!"

"Chen Zui!"

"Don’t pretend you’re not there! I know you’re here!"

"If you have the guts, get out here! You only dare to hide like a cowardly turtle!"

"Get out here now!"

He acted nothing like a prisoner.

He pounded on the door for over twenty minutes, growing tired and hungry. He calmed down a bit, stopped banging, and began pacing around the room, searching for anything useful.

The chain was long enough for him to reach the bathroom, which had a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a cup, towels, and tissues—nothing else.

The wardrobe held a few pieces of clothing.

The room didn’t even have a window, relying entirely on the overhead light for illumination.

As Li Jingtang looked up at the light, it went out.

The room plunged into complete darkness.

Li Jingtang’s breath caught. It was pitch black, the kind where you can’t see your hand in front of your face.

He started pounding on the door again.

"Chen Zui!"

"Chen Zui!"

Chen Zui was next door changing clothes. He put on a blue plaid shirt, layered it with a gray crewneck sweatshirt, let his hair hang over his eyebrows, put on black-framed glasses, and finally a white mask.

He looked at himself in the mirror, then hunched his shoulders slightly, making his entire demeanor appear timid.

The banging on the door stopped.

Li Jingtang had no sense of time in the room. He sat on the floor leaning against the bed. Damn Chen Zui—once he got out, he’d make him pay a hundred times over!

He wasn’t scared, just hungry and thirsty.

Damn!

Not even a meal or a drop of water.

He drifted off into thoughts until sleep took him. When he woke up again, it was still impenetrable darkness, making Li Jingtang extremely uncomfortable. It felt as if he were the only person left in the world, or as if he had been abandoned by the world, discarded somewhere unknown.

His Adam’s apple bobbed, dry and painful.

He struggled to get up from the floor and felt his way to the door from memory.

He knocked.

This time, he didn’t call Chen Zui’s name. Instead, he asked, "Is anyone there?"

A sudden fear gripped him—what if even Chen Zui wasn’t here?

Where was this?

How long would it take for him to come?

Would he be delayed by something, or would he forget about him and never return?

Panic spread through the darkness, draining the color from Li Jingtang’s face.

Chen Zui watched all of this.

He watched from behind the screen as the person at the door went through several shifts in expression. The defensive guard finally lowered after realizing the real danger. After standing still at the door for a while, he began searching the room again, looking for something that could help him escape.

A cigarette burned quietly between Chen Zui’s fingers.

A 70% level of affection was almost equivalent to being in love with the other person. The best and fastest way was to create danger and then rescue them. Otherwise, would he really have to start a romance from scratch?

He didn’t think it was necessary.

Chen Zui remained calm. As he took a drag, the cigarette burned down a section. On the screen, the person bumped into a cabinet, clutching his foot as he crouched down. A curse, no longer so fierce and arrogant, came from the darkness: "Fuck…"

Chen Zui put out the cigarette in an ashtray, then picked up a bottle of perfume and sprayed it on himself, covering up the scent of roses.

Naturally, he had to be thorough, even hiding the scent.

——

"Knock, knock—"

Hearing the knocking, Li Jingtang abruptly raised his head: "Chen Zui!"

He scrambled up, hobbling with the chain on his foot, and hurried toward the door: "Let me out!"

"I’m not Chen Zui."

"Chen Zui is my brother. Are you okay?"

Li Jingtang stopped at the door. Chen Zui’s brother?

"I don’t care who you are, let me out! Otherwise, I’ll make you pay!" Someone used to superiority had no intention of backing down.

"Wait a moment, I’ll go look for the key."

Li Jingtang pressed against the door panel and heard the sound of footsteps fading away. His heart tightened with each step, worrying whether the other would return. But his pride wouldn’t allow him to appear too pathetic. Clenching his fists, he cursed, damn Chen Zui!

He waited and waited, getting more and more impatient.

Unaware that Chen Zui was not far outside, idly playing a phone game on his phone.

After more than ten minutes, he finished, took the key from his pocket, and returned to the door.

Behind the door, Li Jingtang’s eyes lit up at the sound: "Did you find the key?"

"Yes."

"I’ll open the door right away."

Chen Zui did as he said. The moment the door opened, he was grabbed by the collar and pulled into the room. He offered no resistance.

Li Jingtang used the corridor light to look at Chen Zui. The other was bundled up too much, so he reached to remove his mask.

Chen Zui quickly raised his hand to block: "Don’t."

Li Jingtang grew even more puzzled.

Chen Zui lowered his eyes, speaking softly and weakly: "My face is scary. It might frighten you."

Li Jingtang noticed near the edge of the mask, close to the cheekbone, a patch of scarred skin pulled together, looking like marks left from burns or scalds.

He thought of Chen Zui’s perfect… "Pah!" that disgusting face!

"Are you Chen Zui’s brother?"

"Mm, my name is Chen Mo."

He raised his eyes, but with his hair and thick black frames blocking the view, Li Jingtang could only make out his dark pupils, carrying a hint of timidity and calmness, completely different from the feeling in Chen Zui’s eyes.

"Did you offend my brother?"

"Although I don’t know the reason, I advise you to apologize properly to my brother. Otherwise…" He didn’t continue, as if something terrifying would happen that scared him.

Li Jingtang snorted: "What’s so great about your brother? I’ll deal with him sooner or later."

He released Chen Zui, shaking his bound foot: "Do you know where the key for this is?"

"I’ll go look for it."

Chen Zui left again. Li Jingtang stared intently at the slightly slouched back. Though dragons have nine sons, each different, these two brothers were far too different.

He kept his eyes on the door. Just as he was growing impatient, Chen Zui came running back excitedly, holding up the key: "I found it."

Li Jingtang thought: At least this one is kind, much better than that guy Chen Zui.

Chen Zui went over and crouched beside Li Jingtang’s leg to unlock the chain. Li Jingtang looked down, somehow feeling the other seemed soft-looking, perhaps because of a stray strand of hair sticking up at the back of his head.

The iron ring restraining him opened. His earlier struggles had rubbed his ankle red over a large area.

Chen Zui: "Hurry and leave. If my brother comes back, you won’t be able to go."

Li Jingtang instinctively wanted to retort, who does your brother think he is, but the words died on his lips as he remembered the other’s fighting skills—he really might not be able to leave.

Only…

Li Jingtang: "Will he give you a hard time?"

Chen Zui didn’t expect him to ask this. He glanced deeply at Li Jingtang—not completely bad. He lowered his head without answering Li Jingtang’s question.

"Wait a moment."

Without giving Li Jingtang a chance to speak, he ran off again.

Li Jingtang left the room and looked around the hallway. It seemed this should be Chen Zui’s home. He had already investigated Chen Zui: recently returned from abroad, with substantial family assets, apparently planning to make a big splash in Maple City.

"It snowed last night, and it’s very cold outside. Wear this and go." Chen Zui came back holding a black long puffer coat.

Li Jingtang never wore such shapeless clothing and looked disgusted: "No need for the coat. Do you have a car?"

Chen Zui nodded: "Yes!"

——

Li Jingtang looked at the thing before him. When you’re speechless, you have to laugh.

Chen Zui beside him seemed somewhat embarrassed: "Sorry, I don’t have a driver’s license, so I only have a bicycle."

Li Jingtang, smoking a cigarette he’d found on the living room coffee table, said: "Forget the bicycle. Can you tell me what these two wheels are about?"

Chen Zui grew even more embarrassed: "These are training wheels. My balance isn’t very good."

Ao Tian: [Your acting is really good!]

Chen Zui: [Thanks for the compliment. I picked it up from undercover work.]

The cigarette in Li Jingtang's mouth suddenly burned down a large section, the taste of rose fragrance filling his mouth—the same scent that belonged to that man. He slowly exhaled a smoke ring. His phone was missing, he had no money in his pockets, and this was a villa district. Although he could borrow money from the person beside him, someone who'd never had to worry about money in his life simply couldn’t bring himself to ask.

He had no choice but to accept his fate, or else he’d be walking forever.

Li Jingtang walked out the door but then came back in. Under Chen Zui’s puzzled gaze, he awkwardly took the down jacket from Chen Zui’s hands.

It was so cold outside...

Chen Zui stood at the gate, watching as Li Jingtang got on the bike. Li Jingtang turned back and caught a hint of concern in his eyes: "Thanks, I’ll pay you back eventually."

Without wasting any more time, he pedaled away.

Behind him, Chen Zui took out his phone and took a picture of Li Jingtang’s retreating figure.

It was just hilarious.

Ao Tian: [Favorability rate: 7%, that’s quite a jump~ Great job, host~]

Chen Zui: [It’s all thanks to your support.]

——

"Pfft—"

"Look, look."

Everyone on the street was drawn to the same sight: a grown man riding a bicycle with two training wheels, huffing and puffing as he pedaled, his breath forming white puffs from his mouth.

Li Jingtang took a deep breath but finally couldn’t take it anymore. He put one foot down from the pedal, turned toward the people staring and whispering about him, and shouted, "What are you looking at? Never seen a handsome guy ride a bike before?"

Pure aggression.

The two bystanders were stunned by his outburst.

"Keep talking, and I’ll ride this wheel right into your face!"

Li Jingtang flipped them off with a middle finger, then got back on the pedals and rode away. Not far off, they heard him yell again: "Chen Zui! I’m gonna kill you!"

The two exchanged glances: "This dude’s crazy..."

——

Chen Zui’s bold move this time was entirely thanks to Ao Tian’s reminder.

It started when he asked Ao Tian: "Li Jingtang captured Yuan Man—why didn’t he call the police?"

Ao Tian: "Sounds like you haven’t read much. Let me educate you: in dogblood fiction, there are no police. People just don’t have the awareness to call them."

Ao Tian: "The rich can do whatever they want—snatch your kidney if they feel like it, demand your retina, lock you up no questions asked. We’ve transmigrated into exactly that kind of dogblood novel, so we have to play by its rules."

Chen Zui adapted quickly.

After all, it’s hard to learn good habits, but bad ones come easy.

Probably, after returning, this domineering CEO would be—

Fuming helplessly.

"Ah!!!" Li Jingtang was so angry he went swinging a golf club around his house, smashing the coffee table and sofa.

Only when there was nothing left to break did he stop, raising a hand to steady his dizzy head.

Butler: "Sir, what about that bicycle?"

Li Jingtang slowly exhaled: "Put it away carefully."

He still had to return it to Chen... Chen what again?

Whatever, never mind.

According to the bodyguards’ reports, Yuan Man had also taken the opportunity to escape while they were searching for him.

Ugh. Nothing was going right.

Using his new phone, he contacted his good friend Gu Beichen: "Let’s grab a drink."

"Was just about to call you. Come to my place—I want to introduce someone to you."

Li Jingtang went to Gu Beichen’s private club. To show respect in front of others, Gu Beichen made a show of coming out to greet him.

Gu Beichen: "Why the long face? That time of the month?"

"Piss off." Li Jingtang couldn’t even be bothered to roll his eyes. The two had been friends since they were kids playing in the mud and were used to talking nonsense.

"Smile a bit. Don’t make it look like I’m pressuring you into something shady. We need to get on this person’s good side."

Li Jingtang snorted: "Who’s so impressive?"

Gu Beichen: "Someone really important."

As they spoke, they arrived at the banquet hall. Gu Beichen stepped forward: "President Chen, let me introduce you. This is Li Jingtang, CEO of Li Manufacturing."

"Jingtang, this is Chen Zui, CEO of Xinwei Technology."

Gu Beichen smiled cheerfully at the two of them. President Chen behaved normally and extended his hand: "Nice to meet you, President Li."

But his good friend had turned into a motionless, unsmiling block of wood, staring intently at Chen Zui.

Gu Beichen laughed it off: "Jingtang must be stunned by how handsome you are, President Chen."

He nudged Li Jingtang with his shoulder.

Li Jingtang hadn’t expected to see Chen Zui here and felt weirdly nervous—now he’d been caught escaping.

Wait, no.

Why should he be afraid of him?

He blinked, offering a strained smile as he shook Chen Zui’s hand, deliberately pressing hard on the bite mark he’d left there.

"Pleasure to meet you, President Chen."

He raised an eyebrow triumphantly: I’m free. Surprised?