Chapter 24: Paying the Debt

Chapter 24: Paying the Debt

The moment Shen Mian heard Jiang Yancheng call out his real name, he knew everything was over. His body went completely rigid, fear sweeping over him like an incoming tide. His hands and feet turned ice-cold, and cold sweat had already soaked through his undershirt.

"Getting into Jing University must take a ton of points, right? You're only a sophomore—if someone reports you to the police, do you think the school will expel you?" Jiang Yancheng's casual remark hit Shen Mian like a thunderclap.

"No!" Shen Mian shook his head vigorously. His already pale face grew even whiter from fear. Those beautiful, striking eyes were now glazed with a sheen of tears, threatening to spill over at any moment. He looked utterly pathetic.

"I'm begging you! Don't call the police!" Shen Mian reached out and grabbed Jiang Yancheng's arm as tears streamed down his fair cheeks, soaking his thick lashes. "I'll pay you back. Please don't have me arrested. You... I'll do anything you want, please~"

Please.

Anything at all...

Jiang Yancheng looked down at the man in his arms, whose eyes were red from crying, and couldn't help reaching out to wipe the tears from his cheeks.

"Anything, huh?" he asked softly.

Shen Mian's eyes glistened with tears as he nodded frantically, blurting out, "Yes!"

...

Shen Mian could no longer remember when he had gotten into Jiang Yancheng's car. By the time he came to, his body—which had been nearly numb from the cold wind—had gradually warmed up from the heater.

The Maybach's back seat was roomy enough for several adults, yet it held only him and Jiang Yancheng. Shen Mian shrank nervously into the corner, his trembling fingers clutching the leather seat beneath him.

The car glided through the deep night toward an unknown destination. Occasionally, a cold white streetlight streaked past the window. Only then did fear belatedly rise from the depths of Shen Mian's heart.

Where was Jiang Yancheng taking him? Was it... the police station?

He had just stopped crying, his eyes still red, a few teardrops clinging to his long lashes. He stole a few glances at the man beside him before finally working up the courage to speak: "I'm sorry. I was wrong before."

"I'll pay you back after I graduate."

Hearing him speak, the silent man finally turned to look at him. Those deep, dark eyes stared at him unblinkingly before he finally spoke, "You're only a sophomore now. It'll be another two or three years before you graduate, right? I can't wait that long."

Hearing his cold tone, Shen Mian couldn't help trembling again. He looked up with pleading eyes and said in a tiny voice, "I'm sorry... but right now, I really don't have that much money to pay you back."

All the money had gone to the hospital for his dad's surgery—not a cent left. Where was he supposed to find over a hundred grand to pay Jiang Yancheng back now?

"Who said anything about paying me back?" Jiang Yancheng looked at that face—one he both hated and wanted—his eyes darkening. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally gave in and pulled the man into his arms, kissing him.

Shen Mian was terrified by the move and instinctively shoved him away.

Jiang Yancheng, shoved back, looked at him with a cold gaze: "Didn't you just say you'd do anything? So you were lying to me, huh?"

His sharp eyes locked on Shen Mian as he tilted his chin up with a fingertip, his tone carrying a coldness that said his patience was running out:

"Either pay up now... or pay with your body."

Shen Mian stared at him with wide eyes, as if struck dumb by his words.

Jiang Yancheng pulled him back into his arms, swift and forceful. His warm fingertips traced Shen Mian's tear-stained cheek, then slid down to his pale, trembling lips: "When you dressed up as a woman to fool me, didn't you think about what you'd have to pay?"

"Hm?"

Shen Mian was too scared to speak. He bit his lip as tears welled up in his eyes again. He never imagined... that Jiang Yancheng would get back at him like this.

While his thoughts were in chaos, an arm wrapped around his waist, and a scorching kiss crashed down on him again.

Shen Mian was trapped between the back seat and the man, his hands pressed against Jiang Yancheng's chest, with no room to escape.

He could only take the kiss.

The forceful lips pried his teeth apart. The unfamiliar, deep kiss filled Shen Mian with confusion and fear. He instinctively tried to resist and pull away, but the man pressed the back of his head and kissed him even deeper and harder.

Jiang Yancheng's other hand pressed against his waist, leaving him no way to get away.

Faint sounds filled the car. The driver up front kept his eyes on the road, quickly pressing a button. The black partition rose slowly, sealing the back seat into a private space.

Jiang Yancheng stole the limited air. Shen Mian's breathing grew erratic, his nose filled with the man's cold, crisp cologne—and his own scent now carried it too.

His thin cotton jacket had somehow fallen off, along with the pilled beige sweater that was too worn to wear out, both discarded in the corner by the opposite door.

Shen Mian's mind was hazy from the kissing, all his strength seemingly drained, leaving him unable to stop the man's wandering hand.

He felt like a fish stranded on the shore—unable to get back to the sea, unable to reach land.

Only a thin undershirt remained on his body, yet he still felt unbearably hot. Perhaps the heater was turned up too high, or perhaps Jiang Yancheng's hands were simply too warm.

Jiang Yancheng's kisses wandered across his brows, the tip of his nose, his cheeks, before finally returning to those soft lips.

Some unfamiliar changes occurred in his body, leaving Shen Mian at a loss. He had never experienced any of this before, nor did he understand it.

He shrank timidly in Jiang Yancheng's arms, obediently allowing himself to be kissed and held, letting the man take every advantage.

...

By the time Jiang Yancheng carried him out of the car, Shen Mian had no strength left.

He quietly curled up in the corner of the back seat, eyes red, his thin clothes wrinkled and disheveled. Through the half-open collar, dark marks were faintly visible.

Jiang Yancheng didn't glance at the sweater and jacket discarded in the seat. He took a small blanket from the side, draped it over Shen Mian, and lifted him out of the car in his arms.

The person in his arms was far lighter than expected—hardly like the weight of a grown man at all. The temperature outside dropped sharply, and a cold, eerie wind blew against them. The person in his arms shivered from the chill, like a startled kitten, finally lifting his head to look.

Shen Mian huddled in Jiang Yancheng's arms, his muddled mind gradually clearing under the cold wind. He stared blankly at the red numbers climbing upward on the right side of the elevator, realizing they had already left the wind-swept parking garage.

"Ding—" The elevator numbers stopped at 3, and the doors slid smoothly open.

Shen Mian cautiously surveyed his surroundings. He saw crystal chandeliers bright as daylight and floors like white jade, every detail exquisite and luxurious—more grand than the wealthy mansions he'd seen on TV.

In the vast, empty house, only the sound of Jiang Yancheng's footsteps could be heard. Shen Mian looked at this unfamiliar, opulent place and felt like a young beast that had wandered deep into a forest, with no idea how to escape.

He even had a feeling: there was no escaping tonight.

Panic rose in his heart again, and his fingers instinctively clutched at the man's shirt.

Jiang Yancheng finally stopped before a door. He pushed it open and turned on the light.

The room was large, with a bed at its center. On one side of the bed was a floor-to-ceiling window, beyond which the night was thick, with a half-moon faintly visible behind the clouds.

The door closed automatically behind them, and the heavy curtains slowly drew shut at their owner's command, blocking out the moonlight.

Shen Mian was gently placed on the large bed in the center. He looked up, his gaze slightly dazed as he watched Jiang Yancheng.

The man stood by the bed, his already tall figure seeming even more imposing from Shen Mian's seated position. His face revealed nothing, but his eyes churned with dark turbulence. His well-defined fingers were unhurriedly unbuttoning his suit jacket.

His tie was pulled loose from between his long fingers and casually tossed onto the blanket, followed by the sound of his suit jacket falling to the floor.

Jiang Yancheng, who exercised and kept fit year-round, had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs—his physique was in no way inferior to male models on the runway. Beneath his loosened collar, his lean, firm chest strained against the shirt, oozing pure masculine energy.

Shen Mian's breathing was getting shaky. He kept his head lowered, not daring to look at Jiang Yancheng.

His mind was replaying it all like a movie—scene after scene of the man kissing him relentlessly in the car. Shen Mian's lips trembled as he finally understood what Jiang Yancheng had meant by "pay me back with your body."

He didn't know much about guys being together, but he wasn't entirely ignorant. Earlier, Ajie had told him: guys could sleep with other guys, even be lovers. Stuff like that went against nature and basic decency—it was the worst, most shameful scandal you could imagine back home. If anyone found out, people would talk shit about him behind his back.

He couldn't... he can't...

Shen Mian's fingers trembled as he clutched the sheets. Just thinking about what was coming next made him shake with fear.

The tall figure by the bed finally leaned over him. And with Jiang Yancheng's intimidating face right there, when his warm lips met his, fear shot through Shen Mian. On pure instinct, he shoved Jiang Yancheng away hard.

"No!"

Maybe because he'd been so docile before, the sudden outburst caught Jiang Yancheng off guard. He looked at the pitiful little thing kneeling on the bed, face pale and shaking, and a dark look flashed in his eyes. "What? Having second thoughts?"

His voice was low, the end of it rough and husky. In the quiet night, it should've sounded nice, but to Shen Mian, it was a cold warning.

Remembering how the man had threatened to call the cops and report him to school, Shen Mian couldn't help shrinking back in fear. The sheets under his hands were already wrinkled from how hard he was gripping them. The moment he opened his mouth, tears spilled out of the corners of his eyes before he could stop them, making him look so pathetic.

"I... I'm not ready yet. Can you give me more time? Just... not today, okay?"

His voice was hoarse too, maybe from crying earlier. Jiang Yancheng said nothing, his dark, heavy eyes locked on Shen Mian's red-rimmed eyes, and the way his neck trembled as he looked up.

So pretty and so pathetic—he wanted to have him completely, right now.

Jiang Yancheng's original plan hadn't been this fast.

The normal order was holding hands, hugging, kissing, then everything else...

But the second he saw the little liar, instinct had completely taken over his reason.

His sweetheart was so sweet—one kiss was enough to set his whole body on fire. If he'd begged back in the car when Jiang Yancheng was teasing him, maybe he would've hesitated. But now, the arrow was already drawn—there was no stopping.

Especially after getting a taste of how sweet his beloved was.

A smile curled at the corner of Jiang Yancheng's lips. He braced one hand on the bed, the other caressing Shen Mian's face, his fingertips gently wiping away the tears still damp on his cheeks.

"Isn't it a little late to be begging for mercy now?"

He lowered his voice, his smile soft as an April breeze, but his words crushed Shen Mian's hopes without mercy: "I'm not planning on letting you go tonight!"

Shen Mian had thought he might've softened, hope flickering in his tear-filled eyes. But at Jiang Yancheng's words, the light in his eyes went out instantly.

"I... I'll let you kiss me. I'll let you hold me. I won't fight it, please~" Shen Mian refused to give up.

"Don't be afraid." Jiang Yancheng pulled the still-shaking man into his arms, his palm resting on the soft skin of his waist, coaxing softly, "I won't let it hurt you."

"Be good, wifey~"

After coaxing him gently, Jiang Yancheng leaned down and kissed those soft lips he'd been craving.

This time, the little cat didn't push him away, just squirmed a little in his arms. Jiang Yancheng grabbed his two pale, slender wrists and tied them with the tie nearby.

Unable to struggle, Shen Mian looked at him pitifully, his eyes misty.

"Call me, and I'll go easy on you." Jiang Yancheng gently stroked his cheek, coaxing in a low voice, "Call me hubby."

"Be good~"

...

Shen Mian had lost count of how many times the man had coaxed him into calling him hubby. His whole body was exhausted, as if he had been through a serious illness—his limbs were so weak and sore they had no strength left.

He shifted onto his side and felt something sticky trickle out. Shen Mian instinctively reached down and touched something warm and viscous.

He was terrified, his voice trembling as he said, "I... am I bleeding? Am I going to die?"

A hand scooped him up, gently kissing his cheek. "It's not blood."

"I'll take you to wash up and clean you up." Jiang Yancheng leaned down to lift him into his arms.

Shen Mian was too exhausted to react. Upon hearing about taking a bath, he immediately pouted and refused: "I don't want a bath~"

He was so sleepy. He just wanted to collapse onto the pillow and sleep, not go anywhere.

Jiang Yancheng looked at the person nearly toppling over onto the blanket, pulled him close, and coaxed softly, "Be good, you need a bath."

"No bath, I want to sleep." Shen Mian looked at him with grievance, his eyelids drooping as if about to close any second, his small face covered in half-dried tear tracks.

Jiang Yancheng was so mean—he'd tired him out all night, and now he still wanted him to take a bath when he was this sleepy. But right now, he didn't even have the strength to stand.

Jiang Yancheng kissed his eyes as they struggled to open and close, saying gently, "Sleep then. I'll wash you."

Before Shen Mian could think about how he was going to wash him, Jiang Yancheng had already leaned down, wrapped an arm around his waist, and lifted him horizontally.

The bedroom had its own attached bathroom, and the temperature-controlled bathtub at the far end was filled with hot water Jiang Yancheng had prepared in advance, steam drifting through the space. Jiang Yancheng gently lowered the already-asleep person into the tub, then climbed in himself, holding Shen Mian in his arms.

The warm water flowed up around them, wrapping Shen Mian in a soft, cozy embrace. The aching limbs that felt like they'd been run over by a car began to ease in the warmth, the discomfort fading considerably.

He relaxed his brow comfortably, exhaustion written all over his face. Too sleepy to even keep his eyes open, he drifted off in the warm water, half-conscious.

Jiang Yancheng let Shen Mian lean against the edge of the tub and carefully cleaned him. The sweet floral scent of the body wash spread quickly through the space, mingling with the rising steam.

The bathroom lights were bright as daylight, making Shen Mian's skin look even more delicate. But that fair expanse was now marked with many dark traces, and his neck bore several bite marks of varying depths—a jarring sight.

Jiang Yancheng's fingertips gently traced Shen Mian's serene sleeping face, a hint of tenderness and pity flickering in his eyes.

...

Once the cleaning was done, Jiang Yancheng dried Shen Mian off, dressed him in pajamas, and carried him back to the bedroom.

The messy sheets had already been removed by the housekeeper, replaced with fresh, clean bedding. Jiang Yancheng gently laid the exhausted, sleeping person on the bed, tucked him in, then slipped in beside him, pulling him into his arms.

He traced the beautiful contours of the face in his arms, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of his lips.

The tear tracks on Shen Mian's face had been washed away in the bathroom, his face restored to its fair, clean state. Only his eye sockets remained red, enough to make anyone's heart ache.

His brows were furrowed tightly, his whole body curled up like a small creature deprived of shelter, seemingly restless even in sleep. He kept murmuring fragmented words in his sleep:

"Don't call the police... please!"

"Don't arrest me..."

Upon hearing what he was saying, the smile on Jiang Yancheng's lips slowly faded, replaced by a pang of heartache and regret.

He began to reflect on whether he had truly gone too far just now.

His tone had been too harsh, like he'd scared the guy.

After mulling it over, he sighed again at the sleeping face.

He'd been played so badly before. And after just one night, he was already forgiving him?

Did he really like him that much?

Jiang Yancheng let out a self-deprecating chuckle, but couldn't help pulling the man closer.

...

Shen Mian didn't wake up until the next afternoon.

The afternoon sun was bright and warm, slipping through the gaps in the floor-to-ceiling curtains and spilling a few rays onto the smooth floor. Shen Mian slowly opened his eyes, staring at the unfamiliar white ceiling above.

He stared blankly for a while, then his eyes suddenly narrowed on the unfamiliar-yet-familiar ceiling light, and he snapped back to reality.

*Last night... last night...*

Shen Mian clutched the blanket corner, his mind helplessly replaying Jiang Yancheng's face.

That handsome, stern face had pressed close to him countless times last night, forcing him to meet his eyes and kiss him.

Panic surged through him, and he couldn't help sitting up. The sudden movement made him let out an instinctive pained groan, followed by a wave of soreness and discomfort washing over his whole body.

Even the tiniest movement made him gasp.

Soft footsteps approached, and someone leaned in, asking softly, "Awake?"

The tone was clearly gentle, but Shen Mian flinched as if startled, his body trembling as he instinctively shrank back.

Seeing his resistant reaction, Jiang Yancheng pulled back the hand he'd extended, which had been frozen mid-air, and sat down beside him.

Shen Mian felt the mattress dip beside him, and when he looked up, he met the man's deep, beautiful eyes.

"Why were you crying so hard? Does it hurt?"

"Be good and don't move."

"Sweetheart~ call me 'hubby' one more time."

"Just one more time, okay? I promise!"

"..."

The fragmented pieces of last night suddenly clicked back together. He remembered crying so hard, nearly the whole night. But the man had shown no mercy.

The unfamiliar pain was too deeply etched into his memory, making Shen Mian want to run in fear. He'd cried for what felt like forever in that desperate situation, until his voice was hoarse and he couldn't speak anymore.

It felt like a nightmare.

"Are you hungry?" Jiang Yancheng looked at the man curled up quietly on the bed like a quail, gently stroking Shen Mian's back to soothe him.

Shen Mian lowered his head, biting his lip, saying nothing. He was wrapped in a heavy sadness and didn't really want to talk to Jiang Yancheng.

His face also carried a hint of hurt and sulkiness.

"Auntie made food. Want to go downstairs and eat?" Jiang Yancheng leaned in, his hand moving to Shen Mian's waist, rubbing it gently twice. "Still feeling sore?"

The man's palm was warm, and it seemed to ease some of the soreness. Shen Mian didn't want to respond, but his stomach let out two very inopportune growls.

He hadn't eaten much yesterday, and after the ordeal last night, waking up in the afternoon, his stomach had long been empty.

His stomach's protest made Shen Mian's face flush red. His chin was gently lifted, forcing him to look up and meet the man's gaze.

"Don't want to eat, then?"

"If you don't want to eat, how about something else?" Jiang Yancheng pinched his chin, saying casually.

Shen Mian's face turned pale.

He wasn't dumb; he knew exactly what "something else" meant. He'd already experienced it last night, and his body was still aching. He really didn't want to put himself through more pain right now.

His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and under Jiang Yancheng's gaze, Shen Mian finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "I want to eat."

Jiang Yancheng finally released him.

Shen Mian tried to get up, bracing his sore body, but his legs seemed to have no strength at all. As soon as he rose, he collapsed again, his whole body uncontrollably pitching forward. Jiang Yancheng reached out and carefully caught him in his arms. "Easy."

Shen Mian leaned against him silently, letting Jiang Yancheng help him off the bed.

A chill seeped up from the wooden floor to the soles of his feet. Shen Mian looked down and watched the man bend down, holding his ankle to put on fluffy socks, then slipping on soft cotton slippers.

The chill was quickly replaced by warmth.

The slippers were a bit big for him, looking like they were Jiang Yancheng's. His pajamas, too, had sleeves so long they covered his wrists, leaving only a few fingers poking out, and the hem reached down to his hips. There was a faint medicinal scent at the collar, but it wasn't bad.

Seeming to notice his gaze, Jiang Yancheng spoke up. "Sorry, sweetheart. I didn't have clothes ready for you, so you'll have to make do with mine for now."

"But I've already had someone buy some. Everything will be ready for you."

Shen Mian nodded listlessly and followed him to the first floor in the elevator.

The first-floor living room was spacious, with a huge floor-to-ceiling window offering a view of the magnificent lake in the distance. The blue lake reflected the white clouds and blue sky, indescribably beautiful.

The dining table was by the window. Jiang Yancheng led Shen Mian to it, where steaming, delicious dishes were laid out. The aroma wafted into his nostrils with the rising steam, an irresistible temptation for someone starving.

Shen Mian was already famished, and at the smell of food, he unconsciously swallowed. But with Jiang Yancheng beside him, he felt too shy to reach for the dishes, so he just lowered his head and slowly ate the millet porridge in front of him.

The porridge was surprisingly sweet and soft, and far from bland.

Shen Mian buried his head in it, finishing it in no time.

Jiang Yancheng sat beside him, noticing he only drank the porridge and didn't touch the other dishes. He quietly stood and moved all the plates within Shen Mian's easy reach.

"Don't just drink porridge. Eat some dishes."

"They're all light and easy on the stomach, not too heavy on flavor."

Shen Mian looked up at the array of dishes before him. After a moment's hesitation, he finally picked up a plump, reddish shrimp.

He took a bite, and the sweet, tender shrimp meat burst on his tongue with a burst of rich juice. Shen Mian's eyes lit up slightly, and he couldn't help picking up another one.

However, he rarely ate seafood and didn't know he was supposed to peel the shell. Both times, he chewed the shrimp along with the hard shell. It scratched his throat a bit, but he forced it down.

Seeing this, Jiang Yancheng's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of helplessness and sympathy creeping into his eyes.

He silently moved the plate of shrimp in front of himself. Shen Mian thought he was annoyed that he was eating too much, and his chopstick hand froze. When he turned his head, he saw Jiang Yancheng peeling the shrimp.

The man's slender fingers twisted off the shrimp head, cracked the shell open in the middle, and gave the tail a gentle push, slipping the whole shrimp out of its shell.

He dropped the peeled shrimp into the bowl in front of Shen Mian and started on the next one.

Shen Mian stared at the shrimp in his bowl for a long while, until a second and third landed there, before it clicked that Jiang Yancheng had peeled them for him.

He grabbed one and popped it in his mouth, realizing shrimp really did taste different without the shell. The awful crunching and scratching in his throat was gone, leaving just the rich juices and sweet, tender meat.

A weird feeling stirred in Shen Mian's chest. He snuck another sideways glance and saw Jiang Yancheng hunched over, carefully deboning a piece of fish.

That piece of fish landed in Shen Mian's bowl too.

He didn't thank Jiang Yancheng, just kept his head down and ate quietly. The fish had a faint hint of osmanthus, just as good as the shrimp, melting on his tongue—exactly his kind of flavor.

Shen Mian had never eaten anything this good. Even a plain-looking bowl of porridge beat anything he'd had back home or in the cafeteria by a mile.

He thought to himself: So this is what rich people eat? It really was a world apart from what a poor guy like him was used to.

When you're feeling down, good food hits different. A good meal didn't just fill his empty stomach—it seriously boosted his mood.

This was the best meal he'd ever had, so he ate extra slowly, savoring every bite like a lazy cat.

When he was almost done, a middle-aged woman in an apron came to clear the table. Jiang Yancheng called her Aunt Zhang.

Shen Mian felt awkward seeing there were other people in the house. Jiang Yancheng noticed and took him back to the bedroom.

Maybe because his memories of last night in this room were anything but pleasant, Shen Mian immediately tensed up the second he stepped back into the bedroom.

Jiang Yancheng took his hand and tugged him toward the bed.

The moment he realized where he was being led, Shen Mian instinctively backed away in fear, refusing to get anywhere near that bed.

"We just... just ate."

Guess that saying was right—you bite the hand that feeds you. If he'd known Jiang Yancheng's shrimp-peeling and fish-deboning were all just to drag him into bed, he wouldn't have touched that meal at all.

Shen Mian was both anxious and pissed, wishing he could just throw up everything he'd eaten.

Jiang Yancheng tilted his head, watching his over-the-top reaction, and asked with a slight frown: "Was I really that rough last night? Why are you this scared of me?"

Shen Mian bit his lip and stayed quiet, cursing Jiang Yancheng out in his head as a total pervert.

After a whole night of torment, and now right after eating, he's at it again...

Isn't he a CEO? CEOs are supposed to be busy—why's he got so much free time?

Seeing his reluctance, Jiang Yancheng let out a chuckle: "Relax, I'm not planning on doing what we did last night again."

Shen Mian's face went red at that, and he turned away, refusing to acknowledge him.

Jiang Yancheng took his hand and said softly, "Sit on the bed first. I need to put some medicine on you—it's hard to do while you're standing."

"Be good~"

"...Shen Mian, still dazed, let himself be led to the bed."

"Lift up your pajamas," Jiang Yancheng said, and Shen Mian immediately shot him a wary look again.

Jiang Yancheng sighed helplessly and held up an opened tube of ointment: "I put some on last night. One more application and the swelling'll go down."

"Or do you wanna lie down instead?"

Shen Mian pushed his hand away and muttered, "I'm not doing it."

The moment he said that, the pain in his chest flared up again, like his body was protesting.

Shen Mian wanted to curse Jiang Yancheng out again. Why'd he have to bite there of all places? Now it was all swollen.

Seeing how stubborn he was being, Jiang Yancheng knew soft words wouldn't cut it, so he put on a sterner face.

"Lie down on the bed yourself." His tone had lost all its earlier warmth, turning cold and hard.

The second his face went cold, Shen Mian got scared—the intimidation worked a hundred percent. Under that stare, Shen Mian bit his lip and dragged his feet before finally lying down on the bed.

Not wanting to watch, Shen Mian just closed his eyes.

He waited nervously for what felt like forever, until the cool ointment touched the spot that had been aching, and the pain immediately faded by half.

The man's warm palm moved in slow circles over the spot, gently rubbing the cool medicine in until it was evenly spread.

Shen Mian couldn't see what he was doing, but he could feel every move. His ears turned bright red instantly, but he gritted his teeth and kept quiet.

Finally, when Shen Mian had survived the ordeal, his sleep pants were suddenly yanked down without warning.

Shen Mian let out a reflexive yelp, covering his ass and struggling to get up, but Jiang Yancheng pressed him back down.

"Don't move!" Jiang Yancheng said coolly. "Or I'll tie you up."

Remembering the tie that had been wrapped around his wrists last night, Shen Mian didn't dare struggle anymore.

Jiang Yancheng grabbed his ankle and spread his legs apart. Shen Mian's eyes burned with tears, a wave of humiliation rising in his chest.

When Jiang Yancheng's fingertip, slick with cool ointment, touched the sore spot, Shen Mian turned his head away, and tears finally spilled from the corners of his eyes, trailing down his cheeks.

After finally finishing with the medicine, Jiang Yancheng let out a soft breath. He helped Shen Mian pull his pants back up, trying to calm his own racing heart.

He looked down and saw Shen Mian crying again.

His eyes were red, his face covered in tears.

His heart softened for some reason. Jiang Yancheng wiped his hands with a tissue and pulled the guy on the bed into his arms: "What are you crying for? Did I hurt you again?"

He hadn't even used that much force, had he? Crying last night was one thing, but just now it was just one finger.

How could he be this fragile?

A helpless smile tugged at Jiang Yancheng's lips, but he still patted his back to comfort him: "One more application and it won't hurt anymore. If you're still uncomfortable, just sleep it off—you'll feel better when you wake up."

How could Shen Mian dare sleep on that bed again? He lifted his head from Jiang Yancheng's arms, his red-rimmed eyes looking utterly pitiful: "Can you... let me go back to school?"

"Tomorrow's Monday. I have class."

So it was the fear of not being allowed back that made him cry? Jiang Yancheng understood, wiping the tears from his cheek with his fingertip: "No rush, it's still early."

"Do you have class tomorrow morning?"

Shen Mian nodded eagerly. "Yes! I have an early class at eight that runs until noon. I can't be late or skip—I'll fail the class."

Seeing how desperate he was to get back to school, like sharing a room with him was the same as being trapped with some wild beast, Jiang Yancheng's face turned a bit sour.

"It's still early for 8 a.m. tomorrow! I'll drive you there at 7."

As soon as Shen Mian heard he couldn't leave until tomorrow, he realized he'd have to spend another night with Jiang Yancheng—and possibly share this bed with him again tonight. His face went pale with panic, and he shook his head frantically like a rattle: "No! I still have homework to finish. I have to go back tonight."

Jiang Yancheng fell silent.

Shen Mian could sense his displeasure from that silence.

But he insisted on returning to school, stubbornly biting his lower lip in silent resistance.

Seeing how determined he was to leave, Jiang Yancheng didn't dare push him too hard. After a moment of silence, he reluctantly agreed.

The moment Shen Mian heard he could leave tonight, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You don't have classes on weekends, right?" Jiang Yancheng suddenly asked.

Shen Mian hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"From now on, come here every weekend to keep me company." Jiang Yancheng's dark, deep eyes fixed on him with a tone that left no room for argument.

Shen Mian's heart lurched in panic. The relief he'd just felt was instantly replaced by anxiety: "Why?"

Last night... hadn't last night been enough? Hadn't Jiang Yancheng already taught him a lesson?

Why did he still have to come back?

The man was more than a head taller than him. He gently caressed Shen Mian's cheek, a faint, knowing smile curling at the corner of his lips: "You don't seriously think one night is enough to pay off all your debt, do you?"

Hearing those words, Shen Mian's face turned ashen. He looked up, his eyelashes trembling incessantly, a bottomless wave of regret surging through his heart.

A hundred thousand or so—to someone as wealthy as Jiang Yancheng, it was nothing more than the price of a bag for a side piece. He didn't care about the money at all, but he knew Shen Mian couldn't pay it back, so he deliberately used it to control him.

It seemed he had provoked someone he shouldn't have. Jiang Yancheng was far from the pushover he'd initially thought he was.

This man was spiteful and scary as hell.

Shen Mian pinched his palm, biting his lip with reluctant bitterness: "You have so many lovers. Why do you have to come after me?"

So many lovers? Jiang Yancheng raised an eyebrow in confusion—besides Shen Mian, who were these other lovers?

But looking at the red-eyed, angry, and aggrieved person before him, a mischievous urge to tease him rose in him.

He gently tucked a stray strand of hair from Shen Mian's brow behind his ear, his tone so soft it could melt butter: "After last night, I realized you're more fun."

"You're the only one I need to play with."

Hearing this, Shen Mian's face grew paler and paler, his watery eyes glaring at him fiercely. But he didn't dare truly lose his temper, only daring a small, muted outburst.

So cute~

Jiang Yancheng curved his lips, feeling like he'd hit the jackpot.

"How long?" Shen Mian couldn't help asking in a hoarse voice. "How long do I have to be your... lover to pay it all off?"

Jiang Yancheng's gaze paused on him for a second before he said flatly, "Depends on how I feel."

It was a completely unequal agreement, but Shen Mian had no right to refuse. After all, his weakness was now in Jiang Yancheng's hands—with just a flick of his fingers, Shen Mian would be plunged into complete ruin.

He had no choice but to go along with it.

Seeing his silence, Jiang Yancheng knew he'd accepted. He took Shen Mian's phone, added himself on WeChat, and saved his phone number.

"Reply to my messages when I text you, and you can call me if anything comes up at school." As he spoke, Jiang Yancheng opened Shen Mian's WeChat. When he saw the balance in his wallet was only three digits, his fingers hesitated for a moment.

He quickly transferred a few tens of thousands of yuan to Shen Mian, and worried he might send it all back to his family, he also opened a high-limit family card with no password required for him.

"Eat well. You've got no meat on you—you're all skin and bones."

Shen Mian watched him silently, saying nothing and not moving a muscle.

As they were heading out, Jiang Yancheng handed him a brand-new set of clothes.

"Those sweaters of yours are all pilled up and not warm at all. Don't wear them anymore." As he spoke, he draped a light camel-colored coat made of pure wool over Shen Mian's shoulders.

The coat looked thin but was surprisingly warm when worn. It was like a warm, fluffy cloud—light and soft, completely different from the heavy cotton jackets Shen Mian had worn before.

Shen Mian's fingertips brushed lightly over the coat. The soft, comfortable fabric felt wonderful to the touch, finely made with not a single loose thread.

He remembered how he'd once asked Jiang Yancheng for money using buying a coat as an excuse.

Jiang Yancheng had transferred the money immediately, but Shen Mian hadn't been able to bring himself to spend it on a coat.

He never thought Jiang Yancheng would give him one now—and such a nice one, too.

Shen Mian looked up at the man beside him, a swirl of complicated emotions in his eyes. He asked cautiously, "This coat must have cost a fortune, right?"

Jiang Yancheng helped him straighten the collar, saying casually, "It's not expensive. It's not some famous brand."

He'd picked it up on his last trip to Country Z, spotting it right away and meaning to give it to Shen Mian as a gift. It was hand-stitched by overseas tailors from the finest wool and fabric, costing way more in labor and materials than any big-name brand. But Jiang Yancheng had no intention of telling Shen Mian that, afraid Shen Mian would refuse to wear it if he knew how much it cost.

Shen Mian was slender, but his legs were straight, and the waistline fit perfectly. The coat fit him perfectly, making him look well-built with long legs. It gave him an air of quiet elegance and gentleness.

The more Jiang Yancheng looked, the more he liked what he saw. A slight smile played at the corner of his lips: "Wear it like this. It looks great."

Shen Mian really didn't want to wear something so expensive. He already owed Jiang Yancheng way too much—a debt he'd never be able to pay back. After what happened last night, he didn't dare accept anything else from him.

As if reading his mind, Jiang Yancheng bent down to fasten the belt, leaning in close to his ear to say: "Wear this when you come see me next week."

"..." Shen Mian's words of refusal, along with his urge to take off the coat, were swallowed back.

He pursed his lips and finally gave a quiet nod.

This time, Jiang Yancheng drove Shen Mian directly to the gate of Jing University. As night fell, the camphor trees by the school gate rustled in the autumn wind, withered leaves twirling in the air before drifting softly back to the ground.

The car pulled smoothly to a stop at the curb by the gate. Shen Mian unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to get out when a hand suddenly pressed him back down.

His heart tightened, fearing Jiang Yancheng might change his mind and not let him return to school. Tension crept onto his face.

While his thoughts ran wild, the figure beside him leaned in gently. The familiar faint woody scent mingled with the man's warm breath drew close. Shen Mian felt his chin being lifted softly, and the next moment, warm, soft lips pressed against his.

Jiang Yancheng's palm cradled his cheek as he bowed his head and deepened the kiss.