Chapter 29 The Wild Night of Electrocuting the Faithless Ex

Chapter 29: The Night of Blowing Up the Cheating Ex's Phone

"Running a background check?"

Shen Xu closed his laptop, lifting his eyes to look at Cheng Ye, who was almost resting his chin on Shen Xu's shoulder.

Not long ago, he had been handling company matters, while Cheng Ye had slowly shuffled over from the living room as if he were boneless, lingering beside him for a while before naturally pressing himself against Shen Xu.

"Honey," Cheng Ye's fingers fidgeted with Shen Xu's sleeve, "can you help me with something?"

Shen Xu tilted his head, his gaze calmly landing on Cheng Ye's face, his fingertips lightly tapping the cool metal touchpad. His tone was flat: "Tell me first what it is."

"I need you to help me track down a person." Cheng Ye immediately perked up, eyes shining as he looked at Shen Xu, pouring out all the despicable things that shady alpha had done, spilling everything out in a torrent. When it came to the frustrating parts, he was practically gnashing his teeth.

Shen Xu listened quietly, his face showing no particular expression. Only after Cheng Ye finished did he slowly speak: "So you want me to help you find this person?"

"Yes!" Cheng Ye nodded hard, looking at Shen Xu with pleading eyes. "Jiang Shang'en reported it to the police, but they said the amount wasn't big enough. Even if they file a case, we'll have to wait forever. That scumbag is probably off spending the money and living it up."

Shen Xu didn't say yes or no right away. He just tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Cheng Ye twice, then a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Help you find someone," Shen Xu drawled, leaning back into the wide chair back, looking at Cheng Ye with an air of unhurried expectation.

Cheng Ye's heart leaped with joy, and he was about to thank him when Shen Xu shifted his tone, looking at him meaningfully: "What's in it for me?"

Cheng Ye was taken aback for a second, then caught on, his cheeks flushing. He bit his lip, moved even closer until he was practically whispering into Shen Xu's ear, warm breath ghosting over Shen Xu's ear, his voice low: "What do you want..."

Shen Xu's eyes darkened, and he reached out, lightly tapping Cheng Ye's lips with his fingertip.

"Take a guess."

Cheng Ye got the hint, stood on tiptoe, wrapped his arms around Shen Xu's neck, and proactively brought his lips up for a kiss, hoping to trade for the favor.

But just as his lips were about to touch Shen Xu's, Shen Xu raised his hand, pressed his palm against Cheng Ye's forehead, and gently pushed him back.

"That's too little. I'm not happy with that."

Pushed away, Cheng Ye was a bit taken aback. It was the same yesterday and today—either dodging or pushing.

"Then... I'll kiss you a few more times?"

Shen Xu shook his head.

"Even a few times won't work."

Cheng Ye had already guessed what kind of repayment Shen Xu wanted, and accepting his fate, he bargained: "Tonight?"

Shen Xu finally nodded, but then added, "Alright, I just happen to have a new game ready, we can try it tonight."

"New game?" Cheng Ye's heart skipped a beat at this, and his guard went up.

It wasn't that he was overthinking; Shen Xu had too many tricks. Since marrying Shen Xu, Cheng Ye had been "opened up to new experiences" in this area, with various "role-playing" and "scenario simulations" played to the fullest.

"What new game?" Cheng Ye asked cautiously.

Shen Xu looked at his wary yet curious expression and kindly explained: "The Emperor and the Treasonous Minister game."

What? Never heard of it. Probably another role-play. Cheng Ye still vividly remembered the last one, "Good Teacher and Bad Student."

"Oh, I see," Cheng Ye nodded, "It's role-play, right? So am I playing the emperor or the treasonous minister this time?"

Shen Xu answered, "I'm the emperor."

Cheng Ye immediately responded, "So I'm the treasonous minister?"

"No." Shen Xu shook his head, looking at Cheng Ye's confused eyes, and slowly added, "You're the minister."

Cheng Ye blinked. "...What?"

...

That night, Emperor Shen took to the battlefield.

Minister Cheng initially tried to "stay in his lane" and "speak truth to power," but Emperor Shen was stubborn and warlike. He didn't listen to advice at all, launching fierce attacks with endless tricks. Minister Cheng was "slaughtered" until he was dropping his armor and running, begging for mercy repeatedly, and several times attempted to "abandon the battle and escape," only to be mercilessly dragged back by the ankle to the battlefield, ordered to "serve with loyalty" and "give his all."

The battle continued until the sky began to lighten before they sounded the retreat. Only then did the two, ruler and minister, both fall asleep.

The next day at noon, Cheng Ye woke up sore all over from his deep sleep. Sunlight was already streaming through the gap in the curtains, shining brightly into his eyes. Groggily, he fumbled for his phone on the nightstand, unlocked it, and was startled.

There were over a dozen missed calls from Jiang Shang'en on the screen, from around nine in the morning until eleven.

What was so urgent that he bombarded him with calls early in the morning?

Cheng Ye rubbed his sore eyes, cleared his hoarse throat, and called back. The call was picked up almost instantly.

"Hey, what's up? You know I don't get up early, why'd you blow up my phone?"

Cheng Ye habitually held the phone a little farther from his ear, bracing for Jiang Shang'en's screaming fit.

But what came through the phone was Jiang Shang'en's hesitant, reluctant voice: "Cheng Ye... um, maybe we should just drop it."

"Drop it? Drop what?" Cheng Ye didn't react at first.

"I mean... about finding that bastard." Jiang Shang'en's voice dropped even lower, tinged with embarrassment and unease. "I thought it over. Better not have Shen Xu help me find him. He's already skipped town; even the police can't find him. Even if Shen Xu does find him, what then? Then I'd be in his debt big time, and I don't even know how to repay it... Besides, Shen Xu... he definitely wouldn't want to bother with my kind of mess. I don't want to put you in a tough spot."

Hearing Jiang Shang'en back out, and feeling the almost broken body and the hidden pain in a certain hard-to-mention area, a wave of fury rose in Cheng Ye.

He had already paid the price last night by enduring a night of being thoroughly "taken" by Shen Xu in exchange, all to help Jiang Shang'en get even. And now Jiang Shang'en was telling him to just let it go...

"Jiang Shang'en!" Cheng Ye's voice suddenly rose. "Can you have a little backbone?! That bastard not only cheated on your feelings, but also took your money! And you're just going to let it go?"

The angrier he got, the more it felt like he was the one who had been cheated: "Even if you don't want to find him, I will! He cheated you out of your feelings and your money; what right does he have to be free and happy?"

Jiang Shang'en was taken aback by Cheng Ye's sudden outburst. He had called to back out precisely because he was afraid of troubling Cheng Ye, and he hadn't expected such a strong reaction.

"I... I didn't mean that," Jiang Shang'en quickly explained. "I'm just afraid it will be hard for you..."

"What's there to be hard about for me!" Cheng Ye cut him off, his tone decisive. "Shen Xu is my husband. If he helps you, it's for my sake. This favor is mine; you don't worry about it. Just tell me—do you want to find that bastard or not?"

Overwhelmed by Cheng Ye's momentum, Jiang Shang'en sniffed, and the timid feelings that had arisen in his heart dissipated greatly in the face of Cheng Ye's unwavering support. He nodded firmly into the phone: "I do! I want to!"

"Alright, then it's settled," Cheng Ye felt a bit calmer. "I'll take care of finding him. Just stay home and wait for my update."

After hanging up, Cheng Ye was about to toss his phone back onto the bedside table when the bedroom door swung open.

Shen Xu must have been waiting outside; he came in right after Cheng Ye hung up, holding a slim folder.

"Awake?" Shen Xu walked to the bedside and handed the folder to Cheng Ye. "I found that guy you asked about last night."

"Already?" Cheng Ye was so startled he nearly launched himself off the bed. He had only mentioned it last night, and within half a day, the guy was found?

"Mm-hmm." Shen Xu sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at Cheng Ye's shocked expression with a smug look in his eyes. "He's still in the city, hasn't gone far. Staying at the hotel listed in the file, he rented a six-month suite with his own ID."

Cheng Ye quickly opened the folder. Inside were several printed documents, including recent photos of that alpha, hotel check-in information, and even a few blurry surveillance screenshots.

"You... how did you find out so fast?" Cheng Ye looked at Shen Xu in disbelief.

Shen Xu said casually, "This stuff isn't hard to find. He used all his real information—hotel registration, spending records. Once you find one, all his related info comes up."

He saw the surprise and admiration in Cheng Ye's eyes as Cheng Ye gazed at him, feeling rather pleased. He liked it when Cheng Ye looked at him like that—it gave him a sense of being needed and depended on.

"Honey..." Cheng Ye put down the file, leaned over to hug Shen Xu's arm, his voice softening again, full of undisguised admiration and flattery. "How are you so amazing? You're incredible."

It would be even better if he didn't use the same method to investigate me.

The corners of Shen Xu's mouth lifted slightly, clearly pleased.

Cheng Ye also beamed, took his phone, and snapped a photo of the information in the file, ready to send it to Jiang Shang'en.

Shen Xu's gaze fell on the phone screen Cheng Ye was operating. He paused, looked at Cheng Ye, and a hint of doubt crept into his tone. "Cheng Ye, I've been meaning to ask you something. Why is it that when I check the owner information linked to your phone number, it shows Jiang Shang'en?"

Cheng Ye's fingers froze mid-typing.

He looked up at Shen Xu. Shen Xu's expression seemed calm, as if he had just asked casually.

But for a moment, Cheng Ye's heart almost stopped. He had always known that Shen Xu was investigating him. The fact that the phone number's owner wasn't him was so obvious—he probably found out long ago. Yet he didn't ask then, only now. It made Cheng Ye feel that Shen Xu had found out other things too. Instantly, the hairs on the back of his neck pricked up, and his fingers gripping the phone turned white from gripping so hard.

"Ah, really? I'd completely forgotten about that." Cheng Ye feigned annoyance. "I think when I first moved here, I got tricked into buying a plan I couldn't cancel. After it racked up charges, it got suspended. Jiang Shang'en gave me one of his spare numbers. I've been using it ever since. I figured switching would be a hassle, so I never changed it."

As he spoke, he secretly observed Shen Xu's expression. Shen Xu just looked at him quietly, and Cheng Ye couldn't tell whether he believed it or not.

"Is that so?" Shen Xu nodded, didn't press further, and said lightly, "Using someone else's number is pretty inconvenient. I'll take you to get your own."

"Sure, some other day. I'm not in a hurry." Cheng Ye quickly agreed. Anyway, he'd agree for now. 'Some other day, some other day'—who knew which day? Maybe he'd be long gone by then.

Cheng Ye nodded dismissively, but in his mind he was planning to rush out and meet Jiang Shang'en.

"Eat first." Shen Xu's voice came from behind him.

But Cheng Ye had already stood up and walked to the door, clearly ready to go downstairs.

"I'm not hungry. I'll eat later."

"No." Shen Xu walked over, shut the door, and blocked his path. "Eat first. Auntie's already cooked."

Shen Xu managed Cheng Ye's daily life. He looked at Shen Xu's blank face, pouted slightly, took off his jacket, and obediently followed Shen Xu back.

In the morning, Cheng Ye couldn't get up, so he usually skipped breakfast. He ate two meals a day, and lunch was when he was hungriest. Last night, after playing the game of emperor and treacherous minister with Shen Xu, he was even hungrier. He sat down and ate with his head bowed, completely unaware that Shen Xu looked over at him several times.

When Cheng Ye was halfway through his meal, Shen Xu had already finished and set down his chopsticks. He grabbed a wet wipe and cleaned his hands: "I'll drive you there in a bit."

Cheng Ye paused in his chewing, looked up at Shen Xu, and said hesitantly, trying to refuse: "Wouldn't that be out of your way to the office? I can go by myself."

"I'm not going to the office this afternoon." Shen Xu replied simply, picked up his water glass, took a sip, and met Cheng Ye's gaze calmly. "Nothing urgent anyway. I'd like to see that alpha who conned your friend."

Cheng Ye: "..."

So Shen Xu also wanted to come along and join the fun.

His fingers tightened around the chopsticks, Cheng Ye declined: "You're busy at the company. You'd better not come. Jiang Shang'en and I can handle it."

"I don't want to have to bail you out again." Shen Xu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Cheng Ye explained: "I won't throw a punch this time. I know the law." This time, he'd learned his lesson. Even if he did fight, he'd find a place without cameras so no one could catch him in the act.

"You tend to get physical when you're worked up. I'll feel better if I'm there."

"Fine, the three of us can go together." Cheng Ye lowered his head and muttered sullenly. Shen Xu was a very stubborn person; he could rarely talk him out of something. If he refused again, he might not be allowed to go at all.

The two went downstairs, and Shen Xu went to the garage to get the car. Cheng Ye stood at the door and shot Jiang Shang'en a message, short and to the point: "Got the address. We're coming to pick you up now."

"Shen Xu is coming too."

Within three seconds of sending the message, Jiang Shang'en called him.

"Cheng Ye, what are you doing? Shen Xu is coming too? Why did you bring him?!" Jiang Shang'en's voice through the receiver was filled with panic and resistance.

"Keep your voice down; he'll be here soon." Cheng Ye lowered his voice.

"Go downstairs in ten minutes. We'll be there soon." Cheng Ye didn't waste time with him, hung up directly, and Shen Xu had already pulled the car around.

A black Bentley pulled up at the entrance of the old residential complex. Jiang Shang'en couldn't pretend not to see it even if he wanted to.

Cheng Ye rolled down the window and called out to Jiang Shang'en, who was standing awkwardly at the gate, to get in.

Shen Xu also honked.

Jiang Shang'en flinched at the honk, hesitated for a while, and finally walked over reluctantly.

He walked to the car, first forcing an extremely stiff fake smile at Shen Xu in the driver's seat—a smile that looked worse than crying—and said in a voice barely above a whisper: "Sorry for... interrupting..."

Then he quickly opened the rear door, slid in quickly, and sat diagonally behind Cheng Ye, trying to minimize his presence.

Once in the car, he started frantically signaling to Cheng Ye with his eyes, eyebrows darting wildly.

Cheng Ye saw his little moves in the rearview mirror, turned his head helplessly, and gave him a look that said "I can't help it; he insisted on coming," then shook his head slightly.

Jiang Shang'en received the signal and became even more deflated, shrinking into the corner of the seat. He took out his phone and started bombarding Cheng Ye with messages.

But then Cheng Ye's phone kept vibrating in his pocket, "ding-dong" sounds going off repeatedly, loud and clear in the quiet car.

Jiang Shang'en: "..."

Cheng Ye felt Shen Xu in the driver's seat glance at him.

Jiang Shang'en also heard the notification sounds. His hand froze as he was typing. He looked up, met Cheng Ye's speechless gaze in the rearview mirror, and quickly lowered his head again.

Cheng Ye pretended nothing had happened, quietly took his phone out of his pocket, and quickly turned off the sound, setting it to silent mode.

Only silence remained in the car.

Cheng Ye wanted to break the silence.

He casually glanced around and landed on the bulging bag at Jiang Shang'en's feet. The bag looked heavy, and Jiang Shang'en had been clutching it tightly since he got in the car, as if it held something precious.

He turned his head and looked at Jiang Shang'en in the back seat, asking, "What's in your bag? It's bulging."

"Self-defense items."

"Self-defense items? With both of us here, what are you afraid of?" Cheng Ye became interested. "Open it and let me see what you've packed."

Jiang Shang'en reluctantly unzipped his bag and pulled out a strange orange object.

It was about the length of an adult’s forearm, with a blindingly bright orange body, a round metal head, and a handle at the back end.

Cheng Ye frowned and carefully examined the orange contraption. The more he looked, the more unfamiliar it seemed; he couldn’t guess what it was.

Pointing at the orange object, he asked in confusion, “What the hell did you bring?”

“An electric pig prod.”

“…” Cheng Ye was stunned.

Shen Xu, in the driver’s seat, his shoulders shook.

Cheng Ye and Shen Xu exchanged a glance, both thinking their ears were playing tricks on them.

“You… say that again? What is this?”

“An electric pig prod.”

Jiang Shang’en fumbled and found the switch, pushing it up with his thumb.

“Bzzzt—!”

Sparks crackled on the metal head a few times. Jiang Shang’en didn’t seem familiar with it either; he was startled by the noise, nearly dropped it on himself, but managed to turn it off safely.

Having witnessed the whole thing, Cheng Ye had mixed feelings and said helplessly, “I’m so done with you!” He leaned toward the back seat, stretching out his arm. “Give it to me! Where did you get this weird thing? An electric pig prod—are you planning to use it to shock your ex-boyfriend? Is this thing legal?”

“Why wouldn’t it be legal? If he can sell it, I can buy it.”

“Quit adding random WeChat sellers.” Cheng Ye quickly snatched the electric pig prod back.

“Make sure you give it back after messing with it!” Jiang Shang’en leaned in anxiously. “I just fully charged it yesterday. If the battery dies, it’s worthless. And it cost a pretty penny, so be careful not to break it.”

“…”

Cheng Ye was completely speechless, ignoring Jiang Shang’en. He weighed the snatched electric pig prod in his hand—it was heavy, and the craftsmanship looked solid. For some reason, he turned on the switch again, and sparks crackled, scaring him too. He was about to throw it away, but Shen Xu quickly reached out and turned it off.

So the electric pig prod, which had just arrived in Cheng Ye’s hands, was confiscated by Shen Xu.

“Confiscated. Nobody’s playing with it.”

Jiang Shang’en was annoyed but too embarrassed to ask Shen Xu to give it back.

“Alright, it’s gone.” Cheng Ye turned around and scolded, “Tell me, what were you thinking? Using an electric pig prod for self-defense—are you kidding me?”

Jiang Shang’en looked miserable. The more he saw Cheng Ye’s grinning face, the angrier he got. “Who’s kidding you? I’m serious!”

Cheng Ye stopped smiling because he realized Jiang Shang’en was serious—he really wasn’t joking.

“Whoa, you’re serious? Hand me your bag. Let me see what else you brought.”

“Nothing else.” Jiang Shang’en frowned, opened his backpack, and shook it upside down a few times to clear himself. Cheng Ye still didn’t believe him, so he snatched the backpack again and searched through it thoroughly. Only after finding nothing else did he return it.

“Okay, nothing else. Wait, send me the WeChat seller you bought the electric pig prod from.”

Cheng Ye was just curious about what the seller had posted on Moments to sell this thing. As soon as he opened that seller’s Moments that Jiang Shang’en had sent, a product image with flashing colorful lights popped up. Across it, a line of bold text flashed.

“Wild night: zap your ex’s bladder nonstop and make him beg for mercy!”